TWO HORROR crashes, both on the outskirts of Kimberley, claimed the lives of seven people, including two children, yesterday.
Four people, two men and two women, were killed in the first accident, when a truck and an Audi sedan collided head-on shortly before lunchtime about 40km outside of Kimberley on the Douglas road, between Plooysburg and Douglas.
Police spokesperson, Captain Olebogeng Tawana, said all four occupants of the Audi were declared dead on the scene.
“Emergency services had to use the Jaws of Life to free the bodies from the wreckage of the Audi,” Tawana said.
The driver of the truck, who was the only survivor of the accident, was transported to a hospital in Kimberley by Care 4 U medical services, for medical treatment. He is believed to have sustained minor injuries.
A tyre burst is suspected to have been the cause of the accident.
“Our preliminary investigation indicates that the truck could have had a tyre burst which caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle and drive into the oncoming Audi,” said Tawana. “The truck and the Audi were travelling in opposite directions. The truck was travelling in the direction of Douglas while the Audi was travelling in the direction of Kimberley.”
Tawana added that the identities of the deceased were being withheld until their next of kin had been notified.
The road was yesterday partially opened for traffic but later closed to allow emergency workers to remove the bodies from the wreckage of the car. The two women occupants were in the front seats of the car while the men were in the back seat.
Tawana said that the police are investigating a case of culpable homicide.
The second accident, which claimed the lives of two children as well as that of their father, happened at around 4pm on the Barkly road, at the Platfontein turn-off.
It is believed that the driver of a silver Chevrolet Cruze lost control of the vehicle and it rolled, ending up on its roof on the side of the road.
The two children, as well as an adult male, believed to be their father, were declared dead on the scene, while another child was taken to hospital by ER24 and a woman, believed to be the mother, was transported by Emer-G-Med medical services. Both are believed to have sustained serious injuries.
The road was partially closed to traffic following the accident, with traffic officials and emergency vehicles, including the fire brigade, on the scene.
“The Kimberley police are investigating a case of culpable homicide following an accident which claimed three lives on R31. The cause of the accident is unknown at this stage. The names and ages of the deceased are yet to be confirmed,” said Tawana.