Cape Town - A case of culpable homicide has been opened following the deaths of three people in a collision involving three trucks along the notorious stretch of N1 highway near Touwsriver.
Western Cape Department of Mobility spokesperson Muneera Allie said the heavy motor vehicle collision claimed the lives of three people at 8.30pm on Wednesday on the N1 close to Touwsriver, which resulted in the closure of the road until yesterday.
Police spokesperson FC van Wyk said the circumstances were being investigated.
“According to reports, the accident happened outside Touwsriver, direction De Doorns, where three trucks were involved.
“Upon the SAPS’s arrival on the scene, the trucks were already burning.
“One of the victims managed to jump out of a burning truck unharmed, and three others burned in the other two trucks,” Van Wyk said.
Van Wyk said anyone with information can contact the investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Zwelakhe Vayi, on 082 559 4710, 072 181 1706, or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) western region manager Randall Cable said rescue and recovery teams had been on the scene since Wednesday night.
Breede Valley Municipality’s ward 18 councillor Mose Mangali said he was travelling to the Eastern Cape when the road had to be closed and they were forced to look for alternative routes. Mangali said it was not the first time a fatal accident occurred along the stretch of the N1 near Touwsriver.
“I think the government needs to improve the N1 so that people and vehicles can be able to travel when there’s an accident because they tend to stand still whenever an accident happens,” he said.
Ward 3 councillor Oscar Ralehoko said the issue of accidents along the N1 was concerning as pedestrians had fallen victim to negligent driving by truck drivers.
“Sanral and government need to do something as we have continued to see a growing number of freak accidents in the areas.
“This is a very small district and the majority of people in this area are using trucks to travel to work and some of them lose their lives in these accidents,” Ralehoko said.
Cape Argus