Chaos on the M7: Twelve Injured in Massive Durban Truck and Vehicle Pile-Up

Chaos on the M7: Twelve Injured in Massive Durban Truck and Vehicle Pile-Up

Durban’s rush-hour traffic turned into a nightmare on Thursday evening when a multi-vehicle crash involving two trucks and seven cars brought the M7 near Malvern to a standstill. At least twelve people were injured, several seriously, in the massive pile-up between Bellville Road and the N2 Freeway, west of the city.

What started as just another busy afternoon commute quickly escalated into chaos.

Paramedics Battle Through Gridlock

ALS Paramedics spokesperson Garrith Jamieson said emergency teams were called out just after 5pm, but reaching the scene proved almost impossible.

“Traffic was backed up in both directions it was gridlock,” Jamieson said. “By the time paramedics arrived, the scene was pure chaos. Multiple people were trapped or injured across several vehicles.”

Emergency workers had to conduct a triage assessment on-site, prioritising the most critical patients. About twelve people sustained injuries ranging from minor cuts and bruises to serious trauma. Once stabilised, they were rushed to various Durban hospitals for further care.

Photos and videos shared online show wrecked vehicles strewn across the freeway, twisted metal blocking lanes, and motorists trying to direct traffic around the wreckage.

Hours of Delays and an Ongoing Investigation

The M7 remained blocked for several hours as firefighters, paramedics, and police worked to clear the scene. Tow trucks lined up to remove the damaged vehicles while SAPS and Metro Police officers documented the wreckage for investigation.

“At this stage, the events leading up to the crash are unknown,” Jamieson said, adding that police have opened an investigation to determine what caused the chain collision. Early speculation on social media suggested that one of the trucks may have lost control, but authorities have yet to confirm this.

Public Reaction: Frustration and Fear

On social media, Durban residents expressed shock and frustration at yet another serious crash on the province’s busy highways. Some motorists stuck in the gridlock shared footage from the scene, while others questioned the frequency of heavy truck accidents in the region.

“Every other week it’s another pile-up involving trucks,” one user wrote on Facebook. “We need stricter regulations and better road monitoring, lives are being lost.”

Road Safety Under the Spotlight

The Durban crash comes as national attention turns once again to South Africa’s road safety record, following a devastating bus accident in Limpopo earlier this month that claimed 43 lives.

The Road Accident Fund (RAF) recently clarified its position on compensation claims arising from that tragedy, stressing that liability depends on proof of negligence as per the RAF Act.

“The RAF is not automatically liable for every accident,” the fund stated. “Compensation, including for foreign nationals, is determined according to the RAF and Immigration Acts.”

While the RAF’s statement was aimed at another incident, it underscores a national concern South Africa’s roads remain among the most dangerous in the world, with truck and bus accidents often claiming multiple lives at once.

A Wake-Up Call for Durban Drivers

For many Durbanites, Thursday’s crash was a stark reminder of how quickly a routine drive can turn catastrophic. As investigations continue, emergency services are urging motorists to stay alert, maintain safe following distances, and avoid unnecessary risks, especially on high-traffic routes like the M7 and N2 corridors.

As Jamieson put it:

“Accidents like this one don’t just happen, they’re preventable. But until we start driving with more awareness and patience, scenes like these will keep repeating themselves.”

Twelve people are lucky to be alive after a chain-reaction crash involving nine vehicles rocked Durban’s M7 freeway. The cause remains under investigation, but one thing is clear, South Africa’s road safety crisis continues to demand urgent action.