Two Lives Lost In M7 Highway Crash As Community Calls For Safer Roads

A quiet Sunday morning in Durban turned devastating when a truck and a light motor vehicle collided on the M7 highway, leaving two people dead and two others injured. The crash happened on the Pinetown-bound side of the road, just before the N2 bridge near the Bluff, a stretch locals say has become notorious for speeding and heavy-vehicle congestion.

A Scene Of Chaos On A Busy Highway

Emergency services were called out shortly after 11:30am, and what they found was nothing short of traumatic. Both the truck and the car had veered off the roadway, scattering debris across the embankment.

ALS Paramedics spokesperson Garrith Jamieson described the scene as chaotic, with paramedics and rescue teams navigating mangled metal and unstable terrain to reach the victims.

The light motor vehicle had overturned, trapping two occupants inside. Despite determined efforts from paramedics and the eThekwini Fire Department, a man in his sixties and a woman in her forties were declared dead on the scene.

Rescue Teams Work Against The Terrain

The truck driver and a passenger had been thrown down an embankment in the impact. With steep ground complicating access, a rope rescue system had to be set up to safely retrieve the pair. Both were stabilised on the scene and transported to hospital for further care.

Authorities kept the area closed for hours while investigators assessed the wreckage and pieced together what may have caused the crash.

A Community Tired Of Dangerous Roads

While the official cause is still unknown, local residents and frequent commuters took to social media to voice their frustration. Many pointed out that the M7 has long been considered a danger zone, particularly near the Bluff turnoff where heavy vehicles, blind rises and narrow shoulders create a risky mix.

Comments ranged from heartbreak to anger, with one user writing, “Another tragedy on the M7. How many more warnings before something is done?” Others called for increased policing, stricter truck regulations and improved visibility along the route.

A Tragic Start To The Year

January is historically one of South Africa’s worst months for road fatalities, often linked to holiday traffic, fatigue and high-volume freight movement. For many in Durban, this latest tragedy has reopened long-standing conversations about safer road planning and more consistent law enforcement.

As investigations continue, the families of the victims now face the painful aftermath of a crash that unfolded in seconds but will leave lasting scars.

{Source:IOL}

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