After 41 years spent every long weekend and holiday period on the N3 at van Reenens, we thought we had seen and done it all. This last Youth Day weekend, we had a new experience – an 8 hour extricate!!
A truck carrying copper cobalt (apparently used in the manufacture of lithium batteries) lost brakes at the top of van Reenens and as a result utilized the arrestor bed opposite the Pyramids Hotel. The speed at that point took the truck through the arrestor bed over a retaining hill and all the way down into the river in the valley below.
Incredible that both occupants survived, but an operational nightmare to get heavy rescue equipment all the way down to extricate the drivers from a crushed cab. We managed to get our own 4×4 Peugeot Landtrek down close to site to assist with loading the patients and getting them back up to waiting ambulances. The last 3 hours of extrication done with torches and small lights was an experience many of us would not want to replicate.
Huge vote of thanks to all involved – ER24, SAPS, KZN RTI, N3 ROUTE PATROLS, KZN RESCUE & AMBULANCE and of course Barry Niemand who always just jumps in to help out. Great teamwork, a tough challenge but successful outcome.
A truck lost brakes at the top of van Reenens and crashed down a retaining hill and all the way down into the river in the valley below https://t.co/BZUIdk6QLI#ArriveAlive #TruckCollision #CommunityMedicalServices @TruckAndFreight pic.twitter.com/I8OTtvOfyc
– Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) June 18, 2024
