Africa-Press – Eswatini. These adjectives best describe the situation at the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital in Manzini last evening, where relatives, friends and patients had convened to check on their loved ones, who were involved in an accident, where three people died and over 14 were severely injured, during an accident along the Yith’abantu Highway yesterday afternoon.
The fatal road traffic accident involved a Toyota Quantum and Toyota Fortuner. It is still unclear what might have caused the accident, but information gathered from sources is to the effect that the Toyota Fortuner, which was travelling from Nhlangano headed to Manzini, veered off its lane, landing in the other lane, which the Toyota Quantum was in. The Quantum was travelling from Manzini headed to Nhlangano.
Accident
The accident happened exactly a day after a Toyota Quantum was hit by a bus and overturned near the newly-constructed Manzini Golf Course Interchange, along the Manzini/Mbhadlane Highway. In yesterday’s accident, sources shared that in a split second, more vehicles were involved in a pile-up, which resulted in the loss of lives and some victims sustaining severe injuries. During a visit to the hospital at around 6:30pm yesterday, relatives and friends of the accident victims had flocked the corridors of the RFM Emergency Room (ER), immersed in grief and fear of the unknown.
Doctors and nurses were also seen pacing up and down, trying to assist the victims, some of whom had not been attended to since their arrival at the ER. A health practitioner revealed that it was a total confusion, as several victims were delivered by police vehicles and ambulances, some of whom were certified dead. “We were just in shock! The situation is dire as you can see it’s a full house, everyone is not talking to anyone, we are just certifying people dead. Others are coming in with broken legs, while some are drenched in blood. It’s really bad, a confusion,” the health practitioner disclosed. She further revealed that among those who were certified dead was a child.
A visit to the ER found four female patients awaiting treatment. On of the female victims, who was seen crying in pain, said she had not been treated since she arrived in the afternoon. The victim, who was on board the Toyota Quantum, said she saw a car speeding off and cutting through the lane on which the Quantum was travelling. From there, she disclosed that she did not see anything until she woke up on a hospital bed in the ER. “I have been here since the afternoon without any help given to me, save for the bandage around my arm. Others have been attended to but I am still here, without any help. I am cold, tired and hungry,” she lamented.
The patient, who was writhing in pain, would often stand and cry uncontrollably, while nurses would explain that there was a long list of patients to be attended to, and that she should be patient.Deputy Police Information and Communications Officer Inspector Nosipho Mnguni said there were three deaths, while others sustained injuries. She confirmed that the Toyota Quantum was fully seated. According to Mnguni, one of the deceased was the driver of the Toyota Quantum, who died on the spot, and two others, including a child, who was on board the Toyota Fortuner.
When reached for comment, Kombi Association member Ambrose Dlamini said he had not been informed about the latest accident along the Yith’abantu Highway. He noted, however, that it was quite concerning that recently there had been an accident involving a Toyota Quantum along the Manzini/ Mbhadlane Road on Wednesday. “I really don’t know what has befallen us. Although we don’t have any official reports on what the cause of the accidents may have been, it is quite shocking and scary at the same time, that our workers are involved in these accidents,” Dlamini said. He further cautioned the public transport workers to exercise caution when driving on the roads. Dlamini said these accidents were unfortunate and happening at a time when customers were quite few.
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