Four women dead, many injured in collision on R23 in Mpumalanga

Four women died in a head-on collision on the R23 road between Volksrust and Perdekop on Friday evening. (Photo: Provided)

Four women died in a head-on collision between a car and a truck on the R23 road between Volksrust and Perdekop on Friday evening.

Moeti Mmusi, spokesperson for the department of community safety in Mpumalanga, says four other people also suffered injuries ranging from light to serious.

“This includes the driver and three other passengers in the sedan. The deceased were also passengers in the sedan. The driver of the truck sustained minor injuries. All the injured were rushed to a nearby hospital in Standerton and received the necessary medical assistance.”

According to Mmusi, the cause of the collision forms part of the investigation.

“Reckless and negligent driving cannot be ruled out at this stage,” he says.

(Photo: Provided)

Jackie Macie, the MEC for community safety, security and liaison in Mpumalanga, expressed his condolences to the bereaved families and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

“Once again we plead with motorists to do their part by using the road responsibly. We must all contribute to making the road safer by always obeying the road rules and driving with full concentration.”

“These accidents are not only expensive in terms of the loss of human life, but they also affect the economy of the country. Billions of rands are spent on compensating victims through the Road Accident Fund,” says Macie.

The R23 is one of the priority routes in the province due to fatal accidents recorded during previous holiday seasons. It carries significant traffic volumes during holidays and long weekends.