14 DAY TRIAL // A tragic crash that killed 22 people in South Africa on Thursday could have been prevented by proper traffic regulations, officials say.
As mentioned, a lorry slammed into four minibus taxis and a car on the M13 in Pinetown. Previous reports put the death toll at 27, but that number has since been modified to 22, following the final assessment.
ENCA relays a statement by Democratic Alliance Ward Councilor Rick Crouch. He explains that Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for the Department of Transport, Willies Mchunu, has been warned about trucks being a menace in the area of the accident.
"A task team was formed in 2012. This team set out to prove conclusively that among other things, Fields Hill was not safe for large trucks to use. This report was summarily dismissed," Crouch says.
The busy Fields Hill area offers no option for drivers of heavy articulated trucks to recover once losing control of the vehicle.
The spot is located on a steep 100-meter (328-foot) slope where motorists are not able to stop in case of an emergency.
"No matter what the cause of this accident turns out to be, ultimately it is the fault of the MEC and his Department of Transport because it is our assertion that the truck should not have been allowed to be there," Crouch adds.
"I cannot tell you how many incidents there have been involving trucks. The residents that live alongside Fields Hill live in constant fear because more than once trucks have gone over the side and landed in someone’s property," he says.
Crouch is now asking that regulations be put in place to prevent similar accidents in the future. The measure would imply a ban on large vehicles in the area.
"I call on the MEC to immediately ban all heavy trucks from using Fields Hill in both directions and force them to use the N3," he explains.