Durban ( Westville ) M19 near the Dunkle Road Off Ramp at 06h40 on the 14 August 09

A collision this morning has left a person dead, one person critical, three people seriously injured and two with minor to moderate injuries after a light motor vehicle left the road and struck the pedestrians that were standing along side the road waiting to go to work.

When ER24 paramedics arrived on the scene, they found the light motor vehicle in the emergency lane and pedestrians were scattered along the road. A male believed to be in his mid twenty’s, suffered severe trauma to his body was declared deceased on the scene. Another patient was found lying on the embankment and was in a critical condition. Paramedics had to use Advanced Life Support intervention to save the man. He was airlifted to a nearby hospital where trauma staff were waiting to take over his treatment.

The three serious patients were treated for possible fractures and neck injuries. They were stabilised on scene and transported to Life Entabeni Hospital in a serious but stable condition. The two with minor to moderate injuries were passengers from the car. They were treated and transported to hospital for further treatment.

It is unclear how the driver lost control but its is believed that there may have been a mechanical problem which caused the vehicle to leave the rather straight road and crash through the commuters that were standing on the side of the road. By looking at the embankment, it was clear that the vehicle travelled up the bank and came down again, coming to rest in the emergency lane

Metro Police redirected the traffic off the M19 on to the Dunkle Road and through Westville. Traffic was severely affected as it was during peak hour.

Fire Department, Metro Police and SAPS were in attendance.