Four killed in minibus taxi crash on N4 in Mpumalanga
Four people were killed in a crash involving two minibus taxis and a truck on the N4 between Mbombela and Ngodwana near Schoemanskloof in Mpumalanga on Thursday.
The crash occurred when one of the taxis, towing a trailer, allegedly veered off the road and collided with a truck. The impact caused the truck to overturn, while another minibus taxi travelling from Mbombela towards Johannesburg then crashed into the truck.
Mpumalanga Department of Community Safety spokesperson Moeti Mmusi says preliminary reports indicate that one of the minibus taxis caught fire after the collision, resulting in multiple fatalities.
"The earlier indications are that one of the kombis was pulling a trailer that seems to have wandered off the road, and then the truck seems to have crashed into it, and then it overturned, while the other combi that was travelling from Nelspruit towards Johannesburg collided into the truck, and then this led to four people losing their lives."
Mmusi says three occupants from one of the taxis were burned beyond recognition after the vehicle caught fire.
"It is reported that one of the kombis then caught fire. Upon catching fire, three of the occupants in one of the minibus taxis were burned beyond recognition."
He says the crash scene remains active, with law enforcement officers and emergency personnel on site managing the situation and conducting initial investigations.
Motorists have been urged to approach the area with caution as recovery operations and investigations are underway.
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