Tipper truck driver in court for Umhlanga pile-up

Tipper truck driver in court for Umhlanga pile-up

The driver of the tipper truck, which smashed into 49 vehicles on the M41 in Umhlanga, is due to make his first appearance in the Durban Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.

At least 47 vehicles involved in M41 pile-up
Lauren Beukes

The 23-year-old man, who fled the scene of the crash, handed himself over to Durban North police on Monday night.

 

He faces charges of reckless and negligent driving. A crumpled mess of cars could be seen stretching across several hundred metres of the busy route near the M4.

 

Fifteen people were hurt, including a pregnant woman.

 

Meanwhile, the All Truck Drivers Foundation has called for an investigation into the conditions drivers are forced to work in.

 

The group's Sifiso Nyathi reacted to provincial authorities saying that brake failure is believed to have been the cause of the crash.

 READ: Hunt over for M41 crash truck driver as suspect turns himself in

"Most of the drivers they are paid according to the load, they are not paid according to the law of bargaining council,” said Nyathi.

 

“And owners are not bargaining in the council, they do their own thing. So the drivers can't get enough time to sleep because they're pushing load. Even where they're loading, especially the side tipper, they are taking most of the time waiting in line and they don't have enough time to sleep.”

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