Two separate crashes in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, turned a regular Sunday morning into one of tragedy and heartbreak. One man lost his life, and 19 others were injured in the space of just a few hours.
The first incident happened at the intersection of Umlaas Road and the R56, where a taxi and a bakkie collided. Eighteen passengers were hurt and rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment. Emergency teams responded swiftly to the scene and provided necessary medical care before transporting the injured.
About an hour later, a second, more devastating crash occurred at the junction of Ottos Bluff and Dr Chota Motala roads. In this case, a taxi and another vehicle collided, causing the taxi to lose control and veer off the road, striking a pedestrian. The man, believed to be in his forties, died from his injuries at the scene.
The driver of the light vehicle sustained moderate injuries and was taken to the hospital for further care.
Authorities are continuing investigations into the causes of both accidents.