News24 | UPDATE | 8 people killed in crash between minibus taxi, truck on N3

An accident on the N3 highway has left eight people dead.

An accident between a minibus taxi and a truck on the N3, near to the border between KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State, has left eight people dead.

Six injured people have been transported to Thebe Hospital in Harrismith, Free State Road Incident Management Systems chairperson Sipho Towa said on Thursday morning.

The N3 has been closed to allow emergency services officials to work.

There has been a total road closure, and the R712, R74 and R616 have been suggested as alternative routes.

KwaZulu-Natal Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma said the accident took place on the Free State side of the border, but KwaZulu Natal Road Traffic Inspectorate officials were first on the scene.

“Our efficient and energetic Road Traffic Inspectorate together with SAPS Accident Unit have launched an investigation to determine the cause of this accident involving a truck and a minibus taxi. The preliminary report from RTI indicates that eight people have died. We will update figures and give more detail report as we move along,” he added.

He said the N3 was closed to “allow rescue teams to do their work uninterrupted”.

“Consequently, there is traffic congestion between Van Reenen and Swinburne. We request motorists to be patient and exercise extra caution,” the MEC said.

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