Horrific car crash claims five lives

The horrific crash occurred along the R71 road near JCI Mine in Phalaborwa, Limpopo, on Saturday, 10 May.

According to bystanders, a VW Polo veered off the R71 road, fell off a bridge and caught fire, burning passengers to ashes.

They suspect a tyre puncture may have caused the driver to lose control.

Limpopo Transport and Community Safety Department spokesman, Tshifhiwa Dali, said unverified reports indicate that some of the passengers were hitchhikers, which will delay identification.

“Preliminary reports indicate that the driver lost control after what appeared to be a tyre burst. The vehicle caught fire which resulted in fatalities. The department awaits the real cause of the accident following a ploice investigation,” he said.

Transport and Community Safety MEC Violet Mathye expressed shock and sent a warning after the fatal accident.

“On behalf of the department and the people of Limpopo, I wish to convey sincere condolences to the next of kin of those whose lives perished. We have just emerged from a no-fatality weekend along the N1, and can still do it on all our roads,” she said.