17 Injured After Head on Collision

Ambulances were called in from all surrounding areas after a taxi collided head on with a VW Polo this morning. The accident occurred on the R114 outside of the Riverfield Lodge Rehabilitation Center in Randburg North.

Both of the vehicles were left severely damaged in the accident, and a woman had to be cut out of the taxis left, front passenger seat. Part of the front of the taxi was lying on the opposite side of the road. The elderly woman was airlifted from the scene by an air ambulance to a Johannesburg hospital as she had sustained critical injuries. Another patient sustained serious injury and was rapidly transported from the scene by ambulance.

Eight people had to be immobilised on spinal stabilisation equipment after having sustained moderate injury including multiple broken bones, chest injuries, head injuries and abdominal injuries. A further seven people were treated for minor injury and shock.

Paramedics arrived on scene to find many of the patients lying next to the side of the road near the mangled vehicles. Back up was quickly called in and all the emergency services responded and worked together to ensure safety of the scene and prompt assessment and treatment of the patients involved. Even the nurses from Riverfield Lodge center donned plastic aprons and walked to the scene to assist with treating patients.

In total, seventeen people, both male and female, were removed from the scene by ambulance, and were transported to various surrounding hospitals. One of the woman involved was eight months pregnant, but she remained in a stable condition, complaining of pain to her head, she was transported to the Charlotte Maxeke woman and children's hospital for monitoring.

The JMPD Accident Investigation Officers were on the scene to collect evidence for investigation. The road remained closed in both directions for two hours from the time of the accident to clear the scene of patients and debris once patients had been removed.