An accident on the N3 near Balmoral claimed the lives of five people on Friday night, according to Free State emergency services.
One person survived and sustained moderate injuries but was taken to the Thebe District Hospital in Harrismith for treatment.
According to provincial district EMS manager Sipho Towa, a head-on collision between a truck and a car occurred in the early evening, and emergency services arrived at the scene at around 8pm.
The accident occurred on a busy route to Harrismith and traffic was at a standstill for a number of hours.
Towa said that five people were declared dead on the scene, while a fifth person sustained minor injuries.
"The driver of the truck was also declared dead on the scene," he added.
“Our teams are still investigating the cause of the accident, which remains unclear at this stage”.
Towa noted that the accident occurred hours after the Acting Premier, Jabu Mbalula, along with health MEC Monyatso Mahlatsi and other officials, launched the Festive Season Road Safety Campaign.
"Authorities are urging drivers to exercise caution and adhere to traffic regulations to prevent further accidents," he emphasised.
Mbalul also stressed that road safety is a collective responsibility and urged all road users to take action to prevent crashes and fatalities.
"Road Safety is a responsibility for all of us, and it starts with you!", he said.
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