Times Of Swaziland: 8 INJURED AS TRUCK HITS  6 CARS, DRIVER JUMPS OFF

8 INJURED AS TRUCK HITS  6 CARS, DRIVER JUMPS OFF
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Mthunzi Mdluli on 28/11/2023 16:47:00


MVAKWELITJE – A truck driver jumped off the moving vehicle after realising
that it had developed a brake failure.
The truck, in the process, knocked five cars and eight people sustained
injuries, including the driver of the truck. The accident happened at
Mvakwelitje, in the early hours of yesterday. It was gathered that the truck was
headed to Ezulwini, when it developed the brake failure. It has been gathered
that the truck driver first told his passenger to jump off the moving vehicle,
because it had developed a mechanical fault but he was reluctant. A few seconds
later, the driver jumped off and was immediately followed by the passenger,
almost being hit by oncoming traffic.
According to witnesses, the truck, which had gained speed, hit two Mahindra, a
red BMW, a red Haval, a Toyota Corolla and a Nissan NP 200. A motor mechanic
said he saw the truck with no driver behind the steering wheel ‘driving’
towards the Eswatini Electricity Company (ECC), damaging other people’s cars.
“The red Haval which was parked next to the road was hit from behind by the
truck. Five people were on board, including three children. The woman sustained
a cut on top of her left eye. The truck veered off the road before hitting the
fence at EEC,” he said. The driver of the NP 200 complained of injuries to his
left shoulder as well as abdominal pains. He, however, said he was still not
aware how the accident happened.
Damage
The owner of the truck arrived moments later to assess the damage caused. He was
heard talking to some of the affected individuals and sympathising with them. He
said he was still shocked by what happened. One of the police officers at the
scene, when interviewed, said the driver lost control of the vehicle. The
officer indicated that some of the injured people were attended to by
paramedics, before being referred to hospital for further treatment. “As you
can see, more than five cars were damaged and we are still gathering more
information regarding the accident,” said the officer. At the Mbabane
Government Hospital, an IV fluid was administered the truck driver. He sustained
 head injuries.
In an interview, the truck driver, who preferred anonymity, said he was from
Mahwalala heading to the City Centre to load some goods before driving to
Ezulwini. “I tried to apply the brakes along Kamjuda and NERCHA since the road
was getting steeper. The truck started gaining speed and I panicked.  I then
told the passenger to jump off the truck after seeing that I could not control
it,” he said. The truck driver said he had managed to have a chat with those
involved in the accident and said none was found to be in a critical condition.
One of the children had pieces of glass removed from his head at the hospital
while another woman had a bandage put on her left eye.