A devastating single-vehicle crash on the R23 road between Balfour and Heidelberg claimed three lives on Sunday evening. The victims included two adults and one child, who were passengers in a sports utility vehicle (SUV) that overturned around 7 pm.

Two additional passengers sustained serious injuries in the accident. Paramedics who arrived at the scene confirmed that the three victims died on impact.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation, but authorities suspect speeding or reckless driving could be a factor.

“We need to turn the situation around on our roads to curb needless loss of life. We cannot continue to lose lives like this as a result of crashes. Motorists must play their part by obeying the rules and tolerating each other,” said Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison Mr Vusi Shongwe in a statement.

Shongwe once again urged all drivers to focus on safety by following speed limits, avoiding distractions, and driving defensively – especially with passengers on board.