Six die in a horrific N1 accident outside Louis Trichardt

Six people have been confirmed dead while four others were critically injured during a horrific accident on the N1 outside Louis Trichardt in Limpopo on Thursday evening. A taxi and a truck reportedly collided head-on after around 23:00.

The accident happened approximately 7 kilometres outside of Louis Trichardt in the Soutpansberg Mountain Pass, Makhado.

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A truck, traveling south, collided head-on with a taxi after the truck’s brakes apparently failed.

It is alleged that the truck drove over the taxi. Six passengers, including three babies, died at the scene. The truck driver and his passenger managed to escape with minor injuries. The taxi was travelling to Zimbabwe when the accident occurred.

The accident resulted in the closure of the N1 for hours to allow clean-up operations to take place. By Friday morning, traffic in both directions was backed up for several kilometres while the N1 was completely closed off. Single-lane traffic was allowed through just after 08:00.

SIX PEOPLE PERISH IN HORRIFIC N1 ACCIDENT IN LOUIS TRICHARDT

As a result of the accident, workers who were commuting from Musina, Louis Trichardt, Polokwane, and Nzhelele arrived at work late.

Others were found walking long distances to get to work. According to one driver who was traveling to Zimbabwe, they had to sleep next to the road because it was closed.