N3 Highway Closed Following Multiple-Vehicle Crash in Pietermaritzburg
The N3 highway southbound near Peter Brown Drive in Pietermaritzburg has been closed following a major multi-vehicle collision. Emergency services are currently on the scene managing the incident, which involved multiple trucks and resulted in secondary accidents.
Midlands EMS reported that multiple emergency teams, including officials from the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI), are responding to the crash. Authorities have closed the N3 southbound to traffic whereas they perform to clear the scene and investigate the cause of the collision.
Arrest Made in Connection with Previous N3 Crash
In a separate incident on September 4, 2025, a truck driver from Zambia was arrested after allegedly attempting to flee the scene of a multiple-vehicle collision on the N3 near the Cliffdale/Peacevale offramp. That accident left over 20 people injured, with one patient requiring airlift transport to a hospital for critical injuries.
MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma stated that the September 2025 accident, attributed to the Zambian truck driver, contributed to a rise in road accidents in KwaZulu-Natal since the beginning of June. Duma commended the RTI team for the arrest and mandated they work with the South African Police Service to pursue a conviction. He also emphasized the need to verify the driver’s documentation authorizing him to operate the vehicle.
Focus on Rail Freight to Reduce Road Accidents
Duma also welcomed the announcement by Minister of Transport Barbra Creecy regarding the completion of the adjudication process for new Train Operating Companies (TOCs) by Transnet Rail Infrastructure Manager (TRIM). The aim is to shift cargo transportation from road to rail, potentially reducing the number of trucks on major routes and, the risk of accidents. Six new entrants will operate 15 routes for coal and chrome transport, with an expected increase of 20 million tonnes of freight per annum from the 2026/27 financial year.
Recent Incidents on the N3
On September 12, 2025, KwaZulu Private Ambulance Service responded to a single-vehicle collision on the N3 near Peter Brown, where a vehicle overturned, resulting in multiple injuries. Five patients were transported to hospitals, with one sustaining serious injuries and four sustaining minor injuries. No fatalities were reported in that incident.
on April 30, 2026, KwaZulu Private Ambulance Service responded to reports of a major multi-vehicle collision on the N3 between the Hilton and Peter Brown off-ramps. The incident involved a passenger taxi, a private motor vehicle, and a heavy goods truck.