Five people, a man and four women died in a tragic road accident near Artesia on Saturday night.
Confirming the incident, No. 12 District Traffic Officer, Superintendent Itumeleng Maruru, said the head-on collision between a Mazda Demio and a private combi occurred around 8pm, about 5km before Artesia village.
According to Maruru, the combi, which was carrying 14 passengers, was travelling from Tlokweng to Lerala on a church trip and the Mazda Demio had three occupants, the 37-year-old driver and two women who all died on the spot.
“The Mazda Demio driver, who was travelling south, attempted to overtake another vehicle and collided head-on with the combi that was heading north,” he explained.
Maruru said one woman in the combi died instantly, while another woman succumbed to her injuries later that night at Bokamoso Private Hospital. Two more passengers sustained serious injuries and remain in critical condition at the same hospital.
The remaining passengers were rushed to various health care facilities for medical attention. The traffic officer has since appealed to motorists to exercise caution on the roads. “We plead with drivers to reduce speed and ensure it is safe before attempting to overtake, as these are among the major risk factors contributing to fatal accidents,” he said.
