4 killed in Van Reenen's Pass crash

Johannesburg - Four people were killed and 14 others were injured in two accidents on Van Reenen's Pass that brought traffic to a standstill on the N3 on Friday, paramedics said.

"When ER24 paramedics arrived at the first incident, they found that a truck had jack-knifed across the road, colliding with a number of other vehicles," spokesperson Russel Meiring said.

Seven people from a number of vehicles had various injuries, ranging from minor to moderate.

As paramedics took them to hospital, they came across a second accident.

"A large truck had apparently lost control and collided with several other vehicles."

Four people were declared dead on the scene.

"Seven other patients from various vehicles had sustained injuries ranging from minor to moderate," Meiring said.

Earlier, Free State police spokesperson Mmako Mophiring said it was believed reduced visibility, due to morning mist, could have caused the accidents.

He said conditions were difficult for police responding to the accident, and some officers had to walk for kilometres to reach the scene.

The N3 Toll Concession spokesperson Andy Visser said the highway had been closed between Montrose and the Tugela toll plaza in both directions.

The road remained closed just before noon.

Travellers took to Twitter, looking for answers about the delays, while others tweeted photographs purportedly from the scene.