In a chilling incident this Saturday, 6th January 2024, the City of Ekurhuleni’s emergency services firefighters faced a tumultuous situation on the R21 freeway southbound, just before the Pomona off-ramp. Their fire engine, a beacon of rescue and safety, fell victim to a rear-end collision with a super-link articulated truck.
The response was swift from the Albertina Sisulu fire station in Kempton Park, summoned to a crash involving two light vehicles. On arrival, a distressing scene unfolded – an articulate truck had collided with the back of their fire engine. The truck’s driver, allegedly alone in the cab during the incident, suffered critical injuries. Miraculously, the firefighters managed to escape with minimal injuries, a testament to their resilience and training.
As paramedics tended to the injured at the crash site, four lanes on the freeway had to be temporarily closed for safety reasons. The closure aimed to facilitate the efficient care of those involved. Fortunately, the primary crash involving the two light motor vehicles didn’t result in any casualties.
The aftermath of this incident lingers, impacting the functionality of the R21 freeway. Currently, only two out of the four lanes are open for traffic. A sincere plea goes out to motorists travelling from the Pretoria direction to the Airport – consider alternative routes or plan your journey carefully. The rehabilitation process is expected to cause delays, affecting the full functionality of the freeway.
In the face of adversity, the emergency services team continues to stand strong, underscoring the unpredictable challenges they navigate to keep our communities safe.
