Five-Vehicle Pile-Up Brings N3 to Standstill at New England Road

A dramatic multi-vehicle collision involving three heavy-duty trucks and two bakkies brought traffic to a complete standstill on the N3 at New England Road this afternoon, requiring complex rescue operations and causing severe delays for motorists.

The incident occurred at approximately 17h00, with the collision creating a chaotic scene that blocked all lanes of the major highway. KwaZulu Private Ambulance Service emergency responders faced significant challenges in reaching the accident site, battling through gridlocked traffic as concerned motorists attempted to navigate around the incident.

Upon arrival, paramedics were confronted with a critical situation where one patient remained trapped inside a severely damaged truck, requiring immediate technical rescue intervention. 

The patient, who sustained minor injuries including abrasions and lacerations, received comprehensive medical treatment on scene. 

The collision's impact on traffic flow was immediate and severe. The N3 remained completely blocked while emergency services worked methodically to stabilise the scene, treat the patient, and begin the complex process of removing five large vehicles from the roadway.

 The South African Police Service (SAPS) and Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) established traffic control measures and launched a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision.

Currently, one lane has been reopened to allow limited traffic flow while recovery operations continue. Vehicle removal is ongoing, with heavy-duty tow trucks working to clear the remaining trucks and bakkies from the scene.

Motorists are advised to expect continued delays in the area and to exercise extreme caution when passing through the incident site. The investigation by SAPS and RTI is ongoing, with authorities working to determine the exact cause of this significant multi-vehicle collision.