The N12 East has been blocked off at the Comaro Street offramp after a petrol tanker crashed into scores of vehicles in Alberton, south-east of Johannesburg.
Johannesburg metro police chief superintendent Wayne Minnaar said on Tuesday: “Motorists are advised to use the M1, M2, or use Xavier Street or Klipriver Road as exit routes in order to avoid the traffic congestion.”
Paramedics earlier revised the number of people injured in the accident.
Two people were killed and three people were critically injured.
Jarrod Denwood Bezuidenhout posted the following video of the scene on Facebook.
“Two patients were airlifted by the Netcare helicopter and one patient rushed to hospital for the urgent… care they required,” Netcare 911 spokesperson Santi Steinmann said in a statement.
“Seventeen people sustained injuries ranging from moderate to serious and were transported to various hospitals after receiving medical treatment on scene.”
Two heavy trucks and 45 cars were involved in the accident.
“The road will remain obstructed for the scene to be cleared,” she said.
The accident happened on the N12 East near Voortrekker Road.
Prior to the updated information being released, ER24 said 54 people were injured in the accident.
“A petrol tanker had apparently lost control and collided with the multiple vehicles,” said spokesperson Russel Meiring in a statement.
“When ER24 paramedics, as well as other services, arrived on scene, they found multiple vehicles and car parts spread across the road.”
Paramedics began their assessment and found two people had been killed.
“The driver of the petrol tanker told paramedics that his brakes had apparently failed, causing him to collide with… multiple vehicles,” he said.
