Fleeing suspects in fatal Umbilo crash under police watch

It is alleged the gang drove contraflow on the Umbilo Arterial road on Tuesday before colliding head-on with a truck on a bend. 

Spokesperson for ALS Paramedics, Garrith Jamieson says the driver behind the wheel of the suspects' car died. 

"The driver of the light motor vehicle was found severely entrapped in the wreckage and had suffered fatal injuries. He was declared deceased at the scene."

"Five other occupants from the vehicle had sustained injuries ranging from moderate to serious and were stabilised on the scene by ALS Paramedics and EMRS before they were transported to a nearby hospital under police guard. 

"The truck driver had sustained moderate injuries and was stabilised on scene by Advanced Life Support Paramedics before being transported to a nearby hospital.

Police have confirmed the incident saying the Umbilo Task Team were patrolling along Fielden Drive when they spotted a vehicle with six occupants. The vehicle was positively identified as one which was reported to have been involved in a house robbery in the Malvern area earlier in the day. 

"With the suspects defying police’s instruction to stop, a high-speed chase ensued. The suspects drove into the oncoming traffic on Umbilo Road and collided head-on with a horse and trailer, " says the police's Robert Netshiunda. 

The suspects were found in possession of three firearms and 19 rounds of ammunition. According to police, two of the firearms were positively linked with house robbery cases in Malvern and Pinetown.

The five suspects, aged between 20 and 27 years old, will appear in court soon.