Another dies on treacherous N2

KNYSNA NEWS - The horror of seeing yet another body lying alongside the scene of a recent car accident on the N2, brought home the stark reality of the danger that the N2 between Knysna and Plettenberg Bay holds for all who travel on it.
Another life, that of 18-year-old Bonga Loliwe, was tragically lost on this treacherous stretch of road on Sunday, March 20 when he was flung from the yellow Ford Escort which he was driving, after he allegedly lost control of the vehicle in a corner and it overturned, landing on its roof.

"It is believed that Loliwe lost control of the car and was flung out of the vehicle during the accident," explained Malcolm Pojie, SAPS liaison for South Western Cape.

Constable Chris Spies, Knysna SAPS liaison officer, further explained: "Information available indicates that the driver, the deceased, and two passengers (a 28-year-old man believed to be Loliwe’s brother, and a 60-year-old woman) tra-velled towards Plettenberg Bay when the vehicle overturned. The driver fell out of the vehicle and sustained multiple injuries. He died at the scene."

A visibly traumatised eyewitness told how she stopped to assist a motorist who was trying to slow the passing traffic.
"It was just too terrible to see this young man lying on the tar. His eyes were rolled back in his head, obviously dead. The man (the motorist who was first on the scene), checked for a pulse but there wasn’t one. The only thing I could do was fetch a towel and cover his head with it."

Several motorists stopped to assist the two passengers who remained trapped in the vehicle. "Some suggested lifting the car so that they could free one of the passengers who was lying on the tar, trapped under the open door of the car." explained another eyewitness.

"Just as they were about to lift the car a lady shouted for them not to move the injured until medical assistance arrived. Lifting the one side of the car, may have caused more injuries to another passenger, a lady, who was trapped in the back area of the upturned Escort." she explained.

Once the traffic officers arrived, traffic on the N2 was restricted to a one-lane stop/go route to ensure the safety of the emergency personnel working on freeing the trapped injured. A motorist later said that traffic had been backed up into Knysna and as far back as Harkerville.

Knysna Fire Department emergency personnel arrived and, with the help of the jaws-of-life, freed both passengers. First to be freed was the man trapped under the open car door. He was quickly moved to an awaiting ambulance, where he stayed while the 60-year-old woman was being freed.

Once she was secure in the ambulance, the injured were both transported to the Knysna Hospital. "One of the passengers [the man] sustained serious injuries and was later transported by helicopter to a hospital in George," explained Constable Spies.
The woman sustained multiple injuries and remains in the Knysna Provincial Hospital.

"The cause of the accident is still being investigated," said A bystander at the accident scene speculated that the driver may have lost control of the vehicle. "It looks as if the driver lost control of the car coming out of the corner from Knysna side. From the tyre marks on the road, it looks as if the car may have crashed into a road sign and the concrete culvert causing it to be flung in the air and roll across the road."
"Thank heavens that there was no oncoming traffic at the time," said a relieved bystander.

Anyone with information pertaining to this accident is asked by the SAPS to contact the investigating officer, Constable Vuzumzi Xokozela at the Knysna Detective Branch on 044 302 6652.

View more photos of the accident here. PHOTOS NOT FOR SENSITIVE VIEWERS.