Durban ( Shongweni ) M13 Durban bound near the on ramp to Shongweni

A truck driver had a narrow escape this morning after the truck that he was travelling in over turned on the M13 Durban Bound near Shongweni.

ER24 paramedics arrived on the scene, to find the truck lying in the centre medium on its side. The driver had to be freed through the cabin window, as it was the only access emergency personnel had to treat him. The patient was treated for possible neck and back injuries and transported to a nearby hospital by EMRS for further medical treatment.

It is unclear what caused the driver to lose control but the necessary authorities were on scene and a full investigation would be done into the accident.

Durban ( Pinetown ) Westmead road in Westmead.

Three people including the driver are in a serious condition while five other have sustained minor to moderate injuries after the taxi they were travelling rolled into a fence near the Westmead Recycling Depot this morning.

ER24 arrived on the scene to find the taxi lying up against the fence. EMRS were already on the scene and were treating patients. The driver was entrapped and Fire Department needed to use the Jaws Of Life and other mechanical equipment to free him from the wreckage. EMRS treated three people for serious neck, back and severe lacerations. They were stabilised on the scene before being taken to R K Khans Hospital. The remaining five patients were taken to St Mary’s for minor to moderate injuries.

It is believed that the taxi was coming out of a side road that joins Westmead road but had mechanical problems, which caused the driver to lose control and roll into the fence.

Cape Town [Mitchells Plain] on 25 February 2010

A security guard was shot and killed during an alleged armed robbery at a shop in Oliver Tambo Drive, Rocklands, Mitchells Plain.

When paramedics arrived on the scene they found the security guard lying face down in a pool of blood, he was declared dead on arrival.

Three shop employees were "shaken up" by the events and received trauma counselling.

Police are investigating the circumstances around the shooting.

Cape Town [Salt River] on 25 February 2010

Seventeen people were injured when a Toyota Venture overturned at "hospital bend" in the direction of Newlands.

One adult and sixteen children sustained minor to moderate injuries and were taken to various surrounding hospitals for further treatment.

The cause of the accident is unknown but it is alleged that the driver lost control of the vehicle causing it to overturn. ER24, Life ASU, Metro EMS, Fire Department and SAPS were all in attendance and assisted with the patients.

Cape Town [Table View] on 25 February 2010

A fifty one-year-old man was stabbed in his driveway in Sceptre Crescent,Table View.

When paramedics arrived on the scene they found the patient seated up against a wall, with his neighbours applying pressure to his wounds to control the bleeding.

The patient was taken to Milnerton Medi-Clinic in a stable condition. Robbery is believed to be the motive for the stabbing but police are investigating the incident.

Eleven people were taken to hospital from two separate taxi accidents in Cape Town this morning.

The first accident occurred on Jip De Jager Road in Welgemoed, where a Toyota Hi Ace taxi overturned. Four patients were taken to Tygerberg Hospital for the further treatment of moderate injuries.

The second accident occurred at the intersection of Koeberg Road and Omuramba Road in Milnerton, where a taxi collided into the side of a Citi Golf. Six patients from the taxi and one patient from the Golf were taken to hospital with minor to moderate injuries.

Durban ( Pinetown ) M13 Fields Hill East Bound near Richmond road

A truck driver has sustained serious injuries after the truck that he was traveling in over turned on the east bound of the M13 Fields Hill.

Emergency personnel arrived on the scene to find the truck lying on its side half way down an embankment. Part of the two lane freeway way was closed to traffic because of the accident.

The driver was treated for possible neck and back injuries and was transported to hospital by emergency personnel.

It is believed that the driver may have had mechanical problems with the truck while coming down the M13, causing him to lose control around the last corner on Fields Hill.

Metro Police were in attendance and a full investigation would be launched into the accident.

Durban ( Clairewood ) M4 Southern Freeway near Jacobs Off ramp

A twenty eight year old woman is in a serious condition after been involved in a collision between a bakkie and a bus on the M4 Southern freeway late yesterday evening.

ER24 paramedics arrived on the scene to find a bakkie that had collided with a bus and had wedged its self underneath the back part of the bus. The driver was able to free himself before emergency personnel had arrived on the scene. The passenger was not so lucky at the time. The impact had caused the roof to collapse down on her, making it very difficult for emergency personnel to work.

Advanced Life Support Intervention was performed on the patient due to the traumatic injuries she had sustained, while Fire Department used the Jaws Of Life to help free the woman from the wreckage. The patient who was entrapped for more than an hour was finally freed and was extricated from the bakkie using specialised equipment. The patient was stabilised further before been transported to a nearby hospital in a serious but stable condition.

It is believed that the driver of the bakkie misjudged the bus when he came around the corner on the freeway, he tried to avoid the bus but slammed into the corner of the bus with a force. Paramedics are sure that if the passenger was not wearing her seat belt at the time, this accident could have turned out to be quite fatal.

Durban ( Central ) Intersection of Grey and Commercial Street.

Fifteen commuters have been injured after two taxis collided at the intersection of Dr Yusuf Dadoo ( Grey Street ) and Commercial Street this evening.

ER24 paramedics along with other emergency personnel arrived on the scene to find two taxis in the middle of the intersection, with multiple injured patients from both vehicles found seated on the floor near the accident scene.

Four patients were treated for serious injuries as they had possibly sustained neck and back injuries. Thirteen other patients were treated for minor to moderate injuries. All the patients were stabilised on the scene and transported to various hospitals in the greater Durban area.

It is unclear who was at fault but the necessary authorities were on scene and a full investigation would be launched into the accident.

Cape Town [Wynberg] on 22 February 2010 at 15h30

A man, estimated to be around the age of fifty-years-old, died after allegedly falling from the sixth floor of a building in Piers St. in Wynberg.

The man had sustained severe trauma and was dead on arrival of emergency services.

A security guard claimed that the man had fallen from the sixth floor of the building, although it is not clear what the man was doing when he fell.

Police, Life ASU and Fire Department were also in attendance.

Southern Cape [Sedgefield] on 22 February 2010 at 03h30

An eighty-year-old lady was taken to hospital after being stabbed in her home during an alleged robbery in Sedgefield, in the Southern Cape.

When the ER24 crew arrived on scene, they found the lady lying in her bed with multiple stab wounds.

The patient was stabilised on scene before being transported Knysna Private Hospital in a serious but stable condition.

Police were in attendance and are investigating the incident.

Western Cape - Hot Weather Taking Its Toll - 20 February 2010

The hot weather in the Western Cape is taking its toll today. ER24 has attended to two separate drowning incidents and taken two patients to hospital with heat stroke.

In a water incident at Diaz Beach in Mossel Bay, two boys drowned and another two are being treated in Mossel Bay Provincial Hospital for near drowning.

At Bellville Swimming Pool, a man, believed to be in his mid thirties, also drowned. Lifeguards and paramedics attempted to resuscitate the man on scene but were unsuccessful.

On a mountain in Grabouw, two patients were taken to hospital after suffering heat stroke.

ER24 urges you to take the heat into consideration when planning your activities, especially when involving minors and the elderly.

Cape Town [Strandfontein] on 19 February 2010

Eleven people were injured when a Toyota Hi Ace taxi collided with a truck on Baden Powell Drive near Strandfontein.

The patients sustained minor to moderate injuries and were taken to various surrounding hospitals for further treatment.

The exact details around the incident are unclear at this stage.

Durban ( Westville ) Pitlockery road near to the Westville University

A family of three have been injured after a head on collision this afternoon on Pitlockery road in Westville involving two light motor vehicles.

ER24 Medicopter Ground Support Unit who was the first to arrive on the scene, found one of the cars facing up the road while the second one was across the lane, almost blocking the road to traffic.

Under closer examination three people in the golf, a mother and two daughters were found to be the ones injured. The driver was treated for serious injuries, while the two daughters were treated for minor to moderate injuries.

All three were stabilised on scene and transported to Life Entabeni Hospital for further medical treatment.

The driver of the other vehicle sustained minor injuries and would take herself and her four year old daughter to the local doctor for further medical treatment if need be.

It is unclear what caused the driver to lose control but SAPS were on scene and a full investigation would be done into the accident.

Taxi Accident Kills Two - 17 February 2010

Two people died and eleven others were injured when a Toyota Hi Ace taxi overturned on the N2, between Mew Way and R300, in the direction of Cape Town.

When emergency services arrived on the scene, they found the taxi lying on its roof up against the centre concrete barrier. It appeared as though some of the occupants of the vehicle were ejected when it overturned.

Two patients were dead on arrival of paramedics. Eleven others were treated for minor to moderate injuries before being taken to various surrounding hospitals for further treatment.

It is alleged that one of the taxi's tyres burst which caused it to overturn. Police will be investigating the incident.

Pietermaritzburg ( Central ) CNR of Retief and Long Market Street.

A 72yr female has sustained moderate injuries after been knocked down by a light motor vehicle this morning at the cnr of Retief and Long Market Street.

ER24 arrived on the scene to find the elderly woman lying in the road and in severe pain. She had sustained possible neck and back injuries also possible fractures to the ribs. Advanced Life Support intervention had to be done before they could move her to the ambulance. She was taken to Northdale Hospital in a serious but stable condition.

It is believed that the elderly woman was crossing the road at the pedestrian crossing when she was knocked down by the light motor vehicle. The driver sustained no injuries.

Pietermaritzburg ( Central ) Prince Alfred street

A Electricity Transformer has exploded this afternoon, causing wise spread black out in the area.

The incident took place just after 3pm this afternoon just outside the ER24 premises. Paramedics heard a loud bang and everything went dead. They rushed outside to notice smoke coming from a transformer. Within minutes the transformer was in gulfed in flames.

Fire Department were called to the scene and within minutes of their arrival the flames were put out. They then rushed to a second transformer at the intersection of Prince Alfred and Retief street due to smoke coming out of the roof. No fire was reported at this transformer.

No injuries were reported on the scene and the cause was yet unknown but the necessary authorities would be investigating the incident.

Three people died and five others were injured when a car collided into a group of pedestrians on the side of the R304, in the direction of Stellenbosch, just before Kayamandi.

Two patients were declared dead on arrival of emergency services. One patient was in a critical condition and five sustained moderate injuries. The critical patient later died in hospital.

It is alleged that the car was overtaking a truck when it lost control and collided into the pedestrians. The vehicle then went through a barrier and landed in a ravine next to the road.

Police are investigating the incident.

Patient Airlifted from N12 on 09 February 2010 at 12h50

A patient was airlifted to hospital after a head-on collision between a Nissan Hardbody and a VW Polo on the N12, between George and Oudtshoorn.

The driver of the bakkie sustained minor injuries and did not want to be transported to hospital. The driver of the Polo sustained serious injuries and was airlifted by the Metro Red Cross Air Mercy Services' helicopter to George Provincial Hospital.

The Polo caught fire as a result of the collision and needed to be extinguished by the Fire Department. The cause of the collision is unknown at this stage.

Cape Town [Brackenfell] N1 on 08 February 2010 at 09h50

Seven people were injured in a collision between two bakkies and a truck on the N1, in the direction of Cape Town, between Okavango Road and Brackenfell Boulevard.

One of the bakkies overturned in the collision resulting in the passengers being ejected from the back of the vehicle. A passenger of the overturned bakkie was found lying next to the canopy approximately ten metres away from where the vehicle came to rest in the centre island.

The patients sustained minor to moderate injuries and were taken to Cape Gate Medi-Clinic and Durbanville Medi-Clinic for further treatment.

Cape Town [Kraaifontein] N1 on 07 February 2010 at 16h30

Two people died after the vehicle they were travelling in veered off the N1, went over a concrete barrier and fell approximately eight metres onto railway tracks below.

A man, believed to be the driver of the Bantum Bakkie, was trapped in the vehicle and needed to be extricated by rescue crews. The other occupant of the vehicle, also a male, is believed to have been ejected from the vehicle. Both men were dead on arrival of paramedics.

The vehicle was allegedly travelling on the N1 in the direction of Cape Town. The incident occurred just before the Brighton Road turn-off in Kraaifontein.

Durban ( Hillcrest ) Old Main Road near the on ramp to the M13

Mother and baby are recovering well in hospital after giving birth in the back of a car this morning.

ER24 paramedics who were driving through Hillcrest at the time were flag down by members of public and pointed to a stationary car on the side of the road. Paramedics approached the car and found a young pregnant female about to give birth.

Paramedics noticed there were some complications and knew there was no time to get her to hospital. They assisted the mother in delivering the baby in the back of the car. At first the new born was in a critical condition as it was not breathing or crying. Paramedics were able to revive the baby girl and hand her back to her over whelmed mother.

Both mother and baby were transported to St Mary’s Hospital by ambulance for further medical care.

Cape Town [Durbanville] Eversdal Road on 06 February 2010 at 12h30

Sixteen people were taken to hospital after a taxi and car collided on Eversdal Road in Durbanville.

Three people from the car were taken to Durbanville Medi-Clinic and thirteen occupants of the taxi were taken to a nearby provincial hospital.

It is alleged that the taxi was travelling in the oncoming lane due to road works, this resulted in the vehicles colliding head-on.

FILE PHOTO.

Stellenbosch - Lynedoch Railway Crossing on 06 February 2010 at 10h45

A twenty-year-old lady, who is believed to be from the United States of America, was very lucky after being hit by a train while cycling over the Lynedoch railway crossing in Stellenbosch.

ER24 and the Stellenbosch Fire Department were first to arrive on the scene. The emergency service crews were amazed to find that the lady had only sustained moderate injuries.

The patient was taken to Stellenbosch Medi-Clinic for further treatment.

Cape Town [Kenilworth] on 03 February 2010 at 13h15

A boy, believed to be sixteen years old, drowned in a pool at a high school in Kenilworth.

When the call came through on ER24's 084 124 emergency line, paramedics were immediately dispatched. The Contact Centre also gave telephonic instructions to the bystanders on how to do CPR.

When paramedics arrived on the scene they took over CPR from the bystanders and continued with an advanced life support resuscitation. Unfortunately, despite the good effort by all involved, the boy was declared dead on the scene.

The exact details around the incident are unknown.

Durban ( Nandi Drive ) N2 North Bound between M25 and Nandi Drive

A collision this morning on the N2 North bound between Nandi Drive and the M25 turn off has left 10 commuters from a taxi injured.

ER24 and other emergency personnel rushed to the scene to find the taxi in the middle lane of the freeway and a delivery van lying off the road down an embankment. The ten were found near the taxi but were helped across the road due to safety reasons. They were examined on scene and treated for minor to moderate injuries before being transported to various hospitals in the greater Durban area.

It is believed that the delivery van had broken down in the middle lane of the freeway, the taxi who could not avoid it in time slammed into the back of it. The impact caused the delivery van to go across the freeway and down the embankment.

All the necessary authorities were on scene. Traffic was severely affected due to this accident. Motorists were doing turning around on the freeway to head back up the on ramp to Nandi Drive.

Pietermaritzburg ( Eastwood ) Birmingham Road

A 5 month pregnant woman is in a critical condition after been involved in a head on collision between a bakkie and a light motor vehicle this morning on Birmingham road.

ER24 arrived on the scene to find the bakkie in the middle of the road and found the light motor vehicle wrapped around a light pole. The driver of the light motor vehicle who is the pregnant woman had suffered severe head injuries and possible neck and back injuries as well. Advanced Life Support Intervention had to be performed to try and save her life. She was stabilised on scene and transported to Pietermaritzburg Medi-Clinic in a critical condition.

The driver of the bakkie was treated for neck and back injuries and was also transported to Pietermaritzburg Medi-Clinic in a serious condition for further medical treatment.

It is unclear who was at fault but it is believed that the two vehicles had a head on collision, the impact was so great that the light motor vehicle spun and collided side on into the light pole.

Netcare 911, EMRS, Fire Department and NPC were on scene