Seven people killed
Seven people have died in a collision on the N2 between Kei Cuttings and Ndabakazi in the Eastern Cape, with a young boy believed to be about five years old among those killed.
The crash involved a seven-seater vehicle and a light motor vehicle in what provincial transport spokesperson Unathi Binqose described as a head-on collision. The seven-seater was carrying eight people when the impact occurred.
Five males and two females died at the scene. The child was among the five males identified as having died. The available information does not indicate the identities or ages of the other people who were killed.
Injured people taken to hospital
The driver of the light motor vehicle sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital. A passenger from the other vehicle was also transported to hospital for medical treatment.
A further collision followed the initial impact, involving two other vehicles. Those vehicles were reported to have sustained minor injuries, although the number of people affected in that secondary crash has not been provided.
| Reported detail | Information available |
|---|---|
| Location | N2 between Kei Cuttings and Ndabakazi |
| Fatalities | At least seven |
| Child among the dead | Boy believed to be approximately five years old |
| Vehicles involved | Initial head-on collision followed by a secondary collision involving two vehicles |
| Road status | Partially closed while emergency operations continue |
Visibility and suspected alcohol factor
Binqose said drunk driving and poor visibility caused by misty weather were believed to have contributed to the crash. These factors remain part of the preliminary account, and the full circumstances of the collision have not been established.
“Drunk driving and poor visibility due to a misty weather are believed to be a contributing factor to the crash,” Binqose said.
The statement does not indicate whether any arrest has been made, nor does it provide the outcome of any alcohol testing. The condition of the road, the sequence of impacts and the precise cause of the head-on collision will need to be established as the emergency and investigative work proceeds.
N2 partly closed
The crash scene remains active, with rescue teams and other emergency personnel working at the site. The N2 has been partially closed to traffic as officials attend to the injured, manage the wreckage and carry out operations at the scene.
The closure means that traffic movement through the affected section may be disrupted while emergency work continues. Motorists approaching the area are urged to slow down, remain alert to changing conditions and follow directions from law enforcement officers controlling the road.
- Approach the affected section with caution.
- Obey instructions from traffic and law enforcement officials.
- Consider an alternative route where possible.
- Expect delays while rescue and emergency teams remain at the scene.
Emergency response continues
The response is still under way, and officials have not released further details about the identities of the deceased or the total number of injured people. The incident has also not been described as fully cleared, meaning conditions on the route may change as recovery and rescue operations continue.
For families travelling the route, the immediate priority is to avoid interfering with emergency operations and to use official traffic instructions when approaching the partial closure. Vehicles that stop or slow unexpectedly near an active crash scene can create additional risks, particularly where visibility is reduced by mist.
The death of a child has added to the toll from a crash that has already disrupted a major route through the province. With seven fatalities confirmed at the scene, two people taken to hospital and a further collision reported, the incident remains a serious road-safety and traffic-management operation on the N2.
Further information on the injured, the identities of those who died and the circumstances leading to the collision had not been released at the time of publication.
