A devastating head-on collision occurred on the N6 highway, approximately 3 kilometers outside of Smithfield, in the Xhariep district. The incident took place on January 14, 2025, at around 11:30 am.
According to reports, a white Toyota Quantum minibus taxi collided head-on with a Scania horse and trailer truck. The truck, which was traveling from the Eastern Cape to Bloemfontein, caught fire after the impact. The taxi, which was en route from Bloemfontein to the Eastern Cape, sustained significant damage.
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responded promptly to the scene, where they triaged multiple patients. Tragically, three people were declared dead at the scene, including two males and one female. One patient was transported to Stoffel Coetzee Hospital for further treatment.
The N6 highway was closed in both directions due to the accident. Motorists were advised to use alternative routes to bypass the accident scene.
The incident is currently under investigation. Multiple resources were deployed to the scene, including provincial traffic, municipal traffic, SAPS, EMS, rescue, and forensic units.
The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) and local authorities are working to clear the scene and restore traffic flow as soon as possible.
South African Police Service
Free State Department of Health
Truck and Freight