Update
GEORGE NEWS - Easter weekend in George started off in a sombre mood as two people died and seven escaped with minor to moderate injuries after a collision between a bakkie and a Mercedes Benz sedan on the Outeniqua Pass on Thursday 14 April.
A third vehicle with a family of four that was travelling behind the Mercedes and the bakkie, had to hit the breaks to avoid crashing into the two other vehicles.
An eyewitness from this vehicle spoke to George Herald on Wednesday morning.
Exact details surrounding the accident could still not be confirmed by officials, but according to the eyewitness they were all travelling in the direction of George when the accident happened.
According to her it seemed that the bakkie attempted to overtake the Mercedes before the two vehicles collided on a wet and very misty pass.
The two deceased have since been identified as Eneth Okkies and Elize Dirkse, a teacher from Mossel Bay.
Both were declared dead on the scene by ER24 paramedics. Metro ambulance services and Eden911 paramedics were also on scene tending to the injured and taking them to hospital.
According to Southern Cape police spokesperson Capt Malcolm Pojie, Okkies was travelling in the bakkie and Dirkse in the Mercedes.
"A culpable homicide docket was opened for investigation by the George detectives branch," Pojie said.
Another passenger in the Mercedes had to be rescued using the Jaws of Life and another sustained moderate injuries. Both were transported to hospital.
The four people in the third car that narrowly avoided the crash were also among the injured. All were taken to hospital and treated for minor to moderate injuries.
All who were taken to hospital have since been discharged.
The Outeniqua Pass is known to be dangerous when it rains or when the road is wet. Motorists are reminded to be vigilant when using this road in wet conditions and to keep to the speed limit or drive even slower in severe conditions.
PREVIOUS ARTICLE: 2 Die in accident on Outeniqua pass
Easter weekend on Western Cape roads
George thankfully had a relatively quiet Easter weekend in terms of traffic and car accidents, as visible roadblocks and the pay-your-fine-bus were regularly seen around town.
This formed part of the 280 integrated roadblocks that the Western Cape Traffic Services implemented across the province in the week of 11 to 18 April, which included the Easter weekend. A total of 43 345 vehicles were stopped and checked, 476 speeding offences were recorded and 13 386 fines were issued to the value of R13 248 900.
Forty-three vehicles were impounded and 129 were discontinued for unroadworthiness.
Almost two thirds of arrests over the Easter weekend were for drunken driving and total of 21 crashes occurred between 14 and 18 April. There were 37 fatalities of which eight were drivers, 19 passengers and 10 pedestrians.
The highest speeds recorded this week in the Western Cape were as follows:
- 165km/h in a 120km/h zone
- 148km/h in a 100km/h zone
- 114km/h in an 80km/h zone
- 104km/h in a 60km/h zone
Seat belts save lives
Every driver and passenger must wear a seat belt at all times, even on the shortest trip. Children under the age of three must be in an age-appropriate child seat. Set an example and fasten your seat belt every time you drive.
Never speed. Speeding drivers risk the lives of the people in their vehicles, and the lives of others. It is best to travel slowly and carefully. It's the only way that you will be able to react to emergencies in time. If a vehicle travelling at only 60km/h crashes, a 55kg person without a seat belt will experience an impact of over 19 000kg!
With a seat belt, the force will be about 3 800kg.
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