A tragic accident on the N4 highway between the R38 intersection and the Valencia link claimed the life of an articulated truck driver earlier today, December 12.

According to Martin Jeffrey of Emer-G-Med, the incident was reported by a community member on the KaMagugu road at approximately 06:10.

“We responded to the call and found that an articulated truck had crashed through the bridge rails and plunged into a ravine. We have not yet accessed the vehicle. Emergency personnel, including SARZA, are assisting in reaching the truck. Based on initial observations, we suspect the driver may have succumbed to his injuries, but this still needs to be confirmed,” Jeffrey stated.

The Department of Community Safety, Security, and Liaison spokesperson, Moeti Mmusi, later confirmed that the driver had passed away due to the impact of the crash and/or resulting injuries. It was also noted that the driver was alone in the vehicle at the time of the accident.

Preliminary Investigation

While the exact cause of the accident remains unknown, early investigations suggest the driver may have fallen asleep behind the wheel.

“A detailed investigation is underway to determine the cause of the accident. The road is currently operating on a stop-and-go basis. Motorists are urged to exercise caution when approaching the area,” Mmusi said.

Emergency teams remain on the scene to recover the vehicle and clear the area.