Last week was not a good week on the roads in Limpopo. A number of accidents were reported throughout the province, with more than 20 lives being lost in several horrific accidents.
The accidents have shocked many and traffic officials are now wondering as to what will happen as the festive season approaches. Vhembe was not spared the carnage as accidents also happened in the region.
In one of the accidents, a runaway truck laden with bags of cement caused havoc when its brakes failed and it ploughed through traffic, hit another truck laden with fencing material and ended up colliding with a small sedan.
The accident happened at the Tshililo intersection at Tshisahulu outside Thohoyandou on Thursday. For hours, the busy road was closed, and traffic had to be diverted while firefighters cleared the road of the loads the trucks were carrying, which were strewn all over.
Within a short space of time, a large group of locals and passing cars had gathered at the scene. Luckily no one was killed in the accident, but two injured were taken to hospital.
Eyewitnesses said the brakes of the truck that was coming from the direction of Duthuni apparently failed and the driver tried to swerve, but could not do much to avoid the collision. "It happened so quickly and it was just like a scene from a horror movie. We are just happy that nobody was killed. The vehicles that were damaged can be replaced, but a life cannot be bought," said Mr Mashudu Mulaudzi, who saw it happen.
The police have urged motorists and other road users to obey road rules and be more vigilant as the festive season approaches.