Head-on crash on M19 in Pinetown kills driver, injures 14

A head-on collision on the M19 in Pinetown left one motorist dead and about 14 passengers from a taxi injured, emergency services said.

What happened

The crash occurred on the M19 between Bevis Road and Otto Volek Road on Sunday, when a fully loaded taxi collided head-on with a light motor vehicle. Paramedics responded just after 9:20pm, according to ALS Paramedics.

Emergency response

ALS Paramedics said they arrived to find “chaos and carnage” and that additional ambulances, Advanced Life Support Paramedics and the eThekwini Fire Department were dispatched to the multiple-casualty scene.

Fatality and injuries

On arrival, paramedics found the driver of the light motor vehicle had sustained fatal injuries. ALS Paramedics spokesperson Garrith Jamieson said the victim was “a male believed to be in his forties” and was declared deceased on the scene.

Jamieson said approximately fourteen people from the taxi sustained injuries ranging from moderate to serious. Once stabilised on scene, they were transported to various Durban hospitals.

Investigation

ALS Paramedics said that “at this stage, it is believed one of the vehicles crossed the centre median resulting in this crash.” The South African Police Service (SAPS) were on scene and will be investigating further.

“Paramedics arrived on the scene to find chaos and carnage as they found that a fully loaded taxi had collided head-on with a light motor vehicle.” Garrith Jamieson, ALS Paramedics

Further details about the injured passengers, the identities of those involved, and the cause of the collision were not provided.