A five-year-old girl was among those who died in a horrific multiple-vehicle accident on the N1 North in the Soutpansberg Mountain Pass this morning.
The accident occurred at approximately 08:00. Also killed in the crash was the female driver of the vehicle in which the young girl was travelling. The driver of the heavy motor vehicle, which capsized after colliding head-on with the deceased's vehicle, and two other passengers sustained injuries.
The crash happened at the scene of an earlier collision involving a stationary truck and a bakkie. The first accident occurred just past the notoriously dangerous "Ingwe" hairpin turn on the N1 North when the bakkie drove into the back of a truck amid overcast and misty conditions.
Shortly afterwards, at around 08:00, the second crash, this time fatal, took place. Although the exact circumstances are still under police investigation, initial reports suggest that a second heavy vehicle and the sedan collided head-on next to the earlier accident scene. The truck, travelling down the mountain pass, reportedly drove over the sedan before capsizing.
The Limpopo Department of Transport and Community Safety issued a press release before midday, expressing condolences to the victims' families.
"We extend our sincerest condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased and wish those injured a speedy recovery. Preliminary investigations suggest that reckless driving may have contributed to the accident. An investigation will probe this," the department stated.
"This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of road safety and the need for all road users to exercise caution and responsibility. The department urges all road users to prioritise their safety and that of children, especially during peak travel periods," it added.
At the time of going to press, reports indicated that one lane of the road had been reopened.