Lives of former Umhlatuzana family claimed in N3 horror crash
The funeral then proceeded to the Clare Estate Crematorium. KwaZulu-Natal premier, Nomusa Dube-Ncube cautioned motorists to be extra vigilant on the roads following the multiple-car pile-up and crash on the N3 between Hilton and Cedara, Johannesburg-bound.
Last Saturday marked a deeply saddening spectacle in Arena Park as the three members of the Francis family, who were involved in an accident of tragic proportions on the N3 Highway, were laid to rest.
The funeral took place at Cornerstone Ministries International, situated on Rose Heights Road, with the sheer volume of mourners causing mass congestion as vehicles lined the street and filled available parking lots.
Inside the church, hundreds looked upon the three white coffins of Ralph, Michelle, and Matthew Lorenzo Francis, with a family portrait resting behind the trio.
The funeral then proceeded to the Clare Estate Crematorium. KwaZulu-Natal premier, Nomusa Dube-Ncube cautioned motorists to be extra vigilant on the roads following the multiple-car pile-up and crash on the N3 between Hilton and Cedara, Johannesburg-bound.
At the time, the crash forced authorities to close the Johannesburg-bound lane between Hilton and Cedara. The Durban bound lane was also closed due to recoveries and the provision of access by emergency services to the accident scene at the time.
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The crash, which involved five trucks, eight minibus taxis, and 22-light motor vehicles, claimed six lives and injured scores of people.
“I am deeply saddened by the tragic accident and multiple vehicle pile-up that occurred on the N3, and my thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those, who have lost their lives. We are working closely with law enforcement agencies to investigate the cause of the accident and to ensure that those responsible are held accountable. Our priority at this time is to provide support and assistance to the injured and the families of the deceased. We urge all road users to exercise caution and adhere to road safety rules and regulations to prevent such tragedies from happening in the future,” said Premier Dube-Ncube.
She said uMngeni Traffic officers attended to the scene to support Road Traffic Inspectorate, uMsunduzi Traffic, and emergency services.
Many claim that on that fateful day, conditions of thick mist and slight rainfall made driving on the notorious stretch of road difficult, forcing them to adjust their driving style.
Days after the accident, the Minister of Transport, Sindisiwe Chikunga, was accompanied by the MEC of Transport, Community Safety and Liaison in KwaZulu-Natal, Sipho Hlomuka, in visiting the accident scene. On the Department of Transport’s Facebook page, they said that the death toll had risen to six after one victim succumbed in hospital.
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“Minister Chikunga was briefed by investigators, and she also received an engineering report from SANRAL, which stated that the road where the crash occurred is in good order.”
At the funeral, the Rising Sun spoke to a member of the family, who stated that they did not wish to comment on the situation and that comments made to other publications in previous articles were without their consent and from a different side of the family.
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