Seven people died in a head-on collision between an SUV and a truck on the M17 road in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape. All occupants of the SUV perished at the scene, while the truck driver survived.
Seven individuals lost their lives in a head-on collision on the M17 road between KwaZakhele and Motherwell in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape. The accident involved a seven-seater SUV carrying seven occupants and a manganese truck.
Transport Department provincial spokesperson Unathi Binqose confirmed that all seven SUV occupants died at the scene. The truck driver survived but received treatment for trauma.
Binqose stated that the cause of the crash is under investigation. He emphasised the tragedy's impact, saying, “This one crash changes the whole picture on our road safety endeavours and we are not fixated about numbers because we know behind every statistic there is a human life and grieving families. But when so many people lose their lives in a single crash like this it really hits home and takes toll on all of us. It is for that reason we continue to urge motorists to be extra vigilant and extra cautious because life depends on that at times.”
The incident underscores ongoing road safety concerns in the region, as authorities call for greater caution among drivers.