A devastating single-vehicle accident left fifteen construction workers injured this evening after their bakkie lost control and violently overturned along the N2 near Mtwalume on the lower south coast. The incident occurred at approximately 5:30 PM as workers were making their way home.
The bakkie, which was transporting fourteen passengers, careened off the roadway before rolling multiple times and coming to rest wedged between dense bushes and trees alongside the highway. The violent nature of the crash scattered debris across the scene and left the vehicle severely mangled in the vegetation.
Emergency services arrived at a chaotic scene requiring a multi-agency response. Fifteen patients presented with injuries ranging from life-threatening to minor, demanding immediate triage and coordinated medical intervention.
Two patients sustained critical injuries in the devastating rollover, suffering severe head trauma and multiple fractures that required urgent advanced life support interventions. Paramedics worked meticulously to stabilise these critically injured workers at the scene before transport.
A further four patients sustained serious injuries, presenting with a combination of fractures and back injuries that necessitated spinal immobilisation and comprehensive pain management protocols. The remaining nine patients sustained minor injuries, including various abrasions and lacerations from the impact and ejection during the rollover sequence.
The severity and patient load of the incident triggered a substantial emergency response from multiple agencies. KwaZulu Private Ambulance Service coordinated with Medevac Private Ambulance, Netcare 911, and EMRS to ensure adequate medical resources and transport capacity for all fifteen patients.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) secured the scene and managed traffic control, while the Fire Department provided technical rescue support and scene safety operations. Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) personnel were also deployed to the scene to assist with the investigation and traffic management.
One lane of the N2 highway was closed near Mtwalume to allow emergency services safe working conditions at the crash site. The lane closure created traffic delays during the peak early evening period as first responders worked to extricate patients, provide medical treatment, and clear the wreckage from the vegetation.
Authorities are investigating the circumstances that led to the bakkie losing control. The cause of the accident remains under investigation by SAPS.
