Tragic N8 collision claims ten lives and injures 31 in Free State

Ten people have been killed and 31 others injured after a devastating collision between a bus and a truck on the N8, approximately five kilometres from Mandela View, early on Saturday.

The crash, which occurred at approximately 06.35 near the RRR farming area, involved a bus, a heavy motor vehicle and, according to preliminary reports, a train.

Persistent rainfall created wet and slippery road conditions, contributing to dangerously low visibility at the time of the collision.

Emergency services rushed to the scene, finding multiple patients strewn across the roadway, several trapped inside the wreckage, and heavy rain complicating rescue operations.

According to Free State Road Incident Management chairperson Sipho Towa, a total of 41 people were affected.

“Six individuals suffered severe and critical injuries and were taken to Pelonomi Trauma Unit,” Towa said.

Emergency services confirmed the following casualty count:

• 10 fatalities (7 adult males, 3 adult females)
• 6 critical injuries
• 5 moderate injuries
• 19 minor injuries

Tragically, ten people were declared dead at the scene, while one patient declined hospital transport after being assessed by paramedics.

Towa said emergency responders, including paramedics, fire services, the South African Police Service and the Free State Department of Health, worked through rain and difficult conditions.

“It was a serious collision, multiple patients and entrapments were reported,” he said.

Free State Premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae described the tragedy as a profound provincial loss.

“Today, a dark cloud hangs over the Free State,” she said.

“Each life lost on our roads is not just a statistic; it is a beloved mother, a father, a breadwinner, a friend, a vital thread in our social fabric torn away. Our hearts, our prayers, and the full might of our provincial services are with the victims and their families during this unimaginable time.”

The FSPG has activated a multi-departmental crisis response:

• The Department of Health is coordinating medical care for the injured.
• The Department of Social Development has dispatched trauma counsellors and social workers to support bereaved families and those affected.
• Emergency services and law enforcement remain on scene, conducting investigations and managing the temporary closure of lanes heading toward Bloemfontein.

MEC for Community Safety, Roads and Transport, Jabu Mbalula, who visited the crash site, urged motorists to exercise extreme caution.

“We convey our deepest condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones,” he said.

“As we near the holiday season, we call on those behind the driver’s seat to adhere to safety regulations. We urge all motorists to reduce speed, increase following distances, and use alternative routes where possible during such adverse weather conditions.”

Traffic in the area remains heavily affected, with lanes towards Bloemfontein closed to allow rescue and recovery teams to continue their work.

The provincial government has appealed to the public to rely on official updates and avoid speculation as investigations continue.

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