A woman in her fifties has died following a multi-vehicle collision on the M7 highway.
Image: ALS Paramedics
ONE woman has died following a multi-vehicle collision on the M7 highway towards the Bluff on Wednesday afternoon. According to ALS Paramedics spokesperson, Garrith Jamieson, emergency services responded to the scene shortly after 4.45pm near the N2 intersection. Upon arrival, paramedics were met with what Jamieson described as “chaos and carnage.”
“On arrival paramedics found chaos and carnage as they found that a truck carrying what is believed to be copper plates had somehow lost control and collided with approximately four vehicles before overturning onto a light motor vehicle,” he said.
Paramedics discovered that both the truck driver and occupants of the vehicle beneath the overturned truck were trapped in the wreckage, prompting an urgent call for assistance from the eThekwini Fire Department.
“Paramedics assessed the scene and found the truck driver entrapped in the wreckage as well as the vehicle the truck landed on entrapped in the wreckage. Immediately the eThekwini Fire Department was dispatched to assist."
Two other occupants sustained minor injuries and were treated on scene.
Firefighters used specialised rescue equipment to free the trapped truck driver.
“The eThekwini Fire Department used the Jaws of Life to cut the truck driver free. Once freed he was transported to a nearby hospital with minor injuries,” he said.
Rescue efforts to reach the crushed vehicle proved more complex, requiring heavy machinery to remove the truck and its cargo.
“Rescue personnel then had to use a heavy-duty tow truck to lift the trailer and load of copper off the vehicle. Once they gained access, paramedics found a female believed to be in her fifties who had sustained fatal injuries. There was unfortunately nothing paramedics could do for her and she was declared deceased at the scene."
The roadway was closed for several hours as emergency services worked to clear the wreckage.
The cause of the crash remains unknown at this stage.