R21 crashes: Truck ploughs into fire engine, while delivery bakkie driver dies after crashing into stationary vehicle

Driver of an articulated truck was airlifted to hospital after crashing into a fire engine on the R21 freeway in Ekurhuleni. Picture: EMPD

Driver of an articulated truck was airlifted to hospital after crashing into a fire engine on the R21 freeway in Ekurhuleni. Picture: EMPD

Published Jan 8, 2024

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The driver of an articulated truck was airlifted to hospital in Ekurhuleni after a collision with a fire engine.

Spokesperson for the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD) Thabiso Makgato said the driver of the articulated truck sustained “serious” injuries.

She said the collision happened on Saturday on the R21 South, before the Pomona offramp.

“We had a serious accident involving two motor vehicles - a fire engine and an articulated truck. The driver of the truck sustained serious injuries and has been airlifted to hospital,” said Makgato.

Driver of an articulated truck was airlifted to hospital after crashing into a fire engine on the R21 freeway in Ekurhuleni. Picture: EMPD

Following the crash, some lanes on the road were momentarily closed.

Driver of an articulated truck was airlifted to hospital after crashing into a fire engine on the R21 freeway in Ekurhuleni. Picture: EMPD

In another incident, police said a driver of a delivery vehicle died on the R21, in the Kempton Park area, after crashing into a stationery vehicle.

“The Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department’s freeway unit officers responded to a crash on the R21 freeway, direction southbound before Atlas Road offramp, where a 43-year-old male bakkie driver succumbed to his injuries, after driving into the rear of a stationary heavy motor vehicle which was involved in a primary accident,” said EMPD spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Kelebogile Thepa.

The driver of a Nissan light delivery vehicle succumbed to injuries after crashing into a stationery vehicle on the R21 freeway in Ekurhuleni. Picture: EMPD

“On arrival, officers found a motionless body covered with a space blanket, lying on the edge of the freeway next to the damaged Nissan light delivery vehicle. Paramedics were summoned and the bakkie driver was certified dead, on site.”

Thepa said the driver of the stationery heavy truck, and his crew, were unscathed but were treated for shock by medics on site.

“It is not clear at this stage what actually occurred before the crash, but a case of culpable homicide has been registered at Kempton Park police station and a thorough investigation is ongoing,” said Thepa.

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