‘Unspeakable Loss’: Four-Year-Old Girl Killed in Pinetown Collision

A Family Drive Turns Into Tragedy

What was meant to be an ordinary evening drive ended in heartbreak on Wednesday night when a four-year-old girl was killed in a violent head-on crash on Richmond Road near Trafford Road in Westmead, Pinetown.

The collision happened on October 15 and involved two vehicles that slammed into each other with such force that passengers were left trapped inside the wreckage. The child had been travelling with her family including her six-year-old sister when the crash occurred.

Emergency Teams Raced to the Scene

ALS Paramedics spokesperson Garrith Jamieson said emergency responders arrived to find a devastating scene: two mangled vehicles, two people pinned inside, and multiple victims in need of urgent care.

The eThekwini Fire Department and Redline Response Rescue were called in to help. Using the Jaws of Life and other hydraulic tools, firefighters cut through twisted metal to reach those trapped.

“Once freed, the patients were carefully carried to ambulances,” Jamieson said.

A Life Lost, Others Badly Hurt

Jamieson confirmed that the four-year-old girl sustained severe injuries and could not be saved. Paramedics declared her dead at the scene.

Her parents and six-year-old sister were seriously injured and were stabilised before being taken to nearby hospitals. The driver of the second vehicle, who was alone at the time, suffered moderate injuries and was also transported to hospital.

Community Shock and Road Concerns

The crash has sparked sadness and anger in the Pinetown and Westmead community, where residents say Richmond Road has become notorious for high-speed collisions and reckless driving.

“Every few weeks there’s another accident on that road. It’s heartbreaking that this time it was a child,” said a shop owner in nearby Westmead.

On social media, locals have expressed condolences and frustration. Some are calling for speed cameras, speed humps, and better lighting along the busy stretch that links industrial areas to residential suburbs.

A Wider Problem in KZN

KwaZulu-Natal continues to battle high crash rates, especially involving families and children. With the festive season approaching, emergency services have once again urged drivers to slow down, keep headlights on, and remain alert on roads known for heavy traffic and poor visibility.

While police have not confirmed the exact cause of the crash, an investigation is underway.

Mourning a Little Life

The death of a child always shakes a community deeply and this tragedy has left many at a loss for words.

Neighbours have already begun rallying around the grieving family, offering prayers, food, and emotional support while they wait for updates on the survivors’ condition.

For many in Pinetown, the question lingers: how many more families must suffer before change comes to the province’s most dangerous roads?

{Source: The Citizen}

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