Seven people died on Friday afternoon in a four-vehicle collision on the N2 between Kei Cuttings and Ndabakazi in the Eastern Cape.
A Suzuki seven-seater carrying eight occupants collided head-on with a Toyota Corolla near Butterworth. Seven people inside the Suzuki—two females and five males, including a boy estimated to be five years old—died at the scene, according to provincial transport spokesperson Unathi Binqose.
The driver of the Toyota Corolla sustained serious injuries and was rushed to Butterworth Hospital along with one surviving passenger from the Suzuki, eNCA reported. Two additional vehicles, a Mazda CX-5 and a Mercedes-Benz sedan, subsequently crashed into the wreckage, leaving their occupants with minor injuries.
Provincial authorities pointed to adverse conditions and human behavior as primary factors in the disaster.
“Drunk driving and poor visibility due to a misty weather are believed to be a contributing factor to the crash,” Binqose said.
Bad weather also played a role in the secondary collisions, according to the Eastern Cape Transport Department. A case of culpable homicide will be opened against the surviving driver receiving treatment in the hospital, ewn.co.za reported.
Road Closure and Emergency Response
Emergency rescue teams and law enforcement personnel rushed to the active scene following the initial impact. The affected portion of the N2 was closed for several hours as crews cleared the wreckage and treated the injured.
Traffic was diverted to alternative routes while emergency personnel worked on site.
Authorities later reopened the affected section of the N2 to traffic shortly after 17:00 on Friday.
“Motorists are urged to approach the area with caution, reduce speed and comply with instructions from law enforcement officials,” Binqose said, as reported by News24.
Transport MEC Xolile Nqatha extended condolences to the families affected by the tragedy, Algoa FM reported.
What vehicles were involved in the initial collision?
A Suzuki seven-seater carrying eight occupants collided head-on with a Toyota Corolla. Two other vehicles, a Mazda SUV and a Mercedes-Benz sedan, were subsequently involved in secondary collisions.
Which hospital received the injured survivors?
The seriously injured driver of the Toyota Corolla and a surviving passenger from the Suzuki were rushed to Butterworth Hospital.
When did the N2 route reopen to traffic?
The affected portion of the N2 was reopened to motorists after 17:00 on Friday afternoon.
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