This morning, at approximately 08:30, KwaZulu Private Ambulance Service responded to a serious single-vehicle collision on Cleland Road in Pietermaritzburg.
Upon arrival, emergency services encountered a harrowing scene. A hatchback vehicle, occupied by four college students on their way to their morning lectures, had veered off the roadway, losing control and overturning multiple times. The momentum of the crash sent the vehicle hurtling down a small embankment, where it eventually came to rest within a hazardous drainage system construction site.
The complexity of the scene required immediate and precise intervention. Paramedics conducted a rapid triage and identified one occupant in critical condition, suffering from life-threatening head trauma. Advanced Life Support paramedics worked fervently to stabilise the patient, performing advanced airway techniques to secure the patient’s respiratory function on-site.
The three remaining occupants were found to have sustained serious injuries, including suspected spinal trauma and multiple fractures. Following intensive stabilisation efforts at the scene, all four patients were mobilised and transported to nearby medical facilities for specialised emergency care.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) and the local Fire Department were in attendance to provide critical scene support and technical assistance. Despite the severity of the wreckage and the ongoing construction in the area, there was no significant impact on traffic flow. The exact cause of the incident is currently under investigation by relevant authorities.