A spate of collisions involving livestock has once again highlighted the growing danger facing motorists on roads across the Chris Hani District, after four separate crashes involving cows and a horse were reported within three days.
The latest incidents occurred between 5 and 6 July on the R410, R61, R56 and R67, with emergency services responding to multiple scenes. While most occupants escaped without serious injuries, one person had to be rescued from a vehicle after becoming trapped, renewing concerns over animals wandering onto roads, particularly after dark.
The first incident occurred at about 19:00 on Sunday, 5 July, on the R61 near Komani. A Toyota Quantum collided with a cow near the 17km marker east of town. Emergency services found one occupant trapped inside the vehicle after their feet became wedged beneath the dashboard. Rescue teams freed the patient, who was transported to Frontier Hospital for treatment.
Just 40 minutes later, at approximately 19:40, an Eastern Cape Emergency Medical Services (EMS) vehicle struck a horse on the R410 near McKay’s Nek, about 21.8 kilometres from McKay’s Nek in the direction of Komani. The vehicle involved was a white Isuzu D-Max double cab used by EMS personnel.
Two EMS vehicles, SAPS and a towing service responded to the scene. The two male EMS employees travelling in the vehicle were assessed but escaped without injury and did not require medical treatment or transport to hospital. Police remained on scene while recovery operations were carried out.
The following day, Monday, 6 July, two more livestock collisions were reported within an hour of each other.
At approximately 17:56, a red Isuzu D-Max collided with a cow on the R56 between Indwe and Dordrecht, about one kilometre outside Indwe. The two men travelling in the bakkie were uninjured, although the damaged vehicle obstructed one lane of traffic on a bend while emergency personnel waited for police to arrive.
Less than an hour later, at around 18:30, a Fidelity Services Group bakkie struck another cow at Tambo Village on the R67 between Komani and Whittlesea. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in that collision.
Although three of the four latest crashes ended without injuries, the incidents have again drawn attention to the growing number of livestock-related collisions across the district.
According to records kept by Komani News, at least 11 livestock-related crashes have been reported since the beginning of June.
These include six people injured after a vehicle struck a cow on the R61 near Tarkastad on 6 June; one person injured in a collision on the N6 near Lesseyton on 7 June; another injury in a livestock collision on the R61 on 8 June; three people injured near Komani on 10 June; two people injured on the R67 near Tambo Village on 12 June; and a fatal crash on 14 June when a taxi collided with a cow on the R61, killing one woman and injuring five others
The latest crashes continue to raise concerns about livestock roaming freely on rural roads across the Chris Hani District, where poor visibility after dark and animals entering roadways remain a significant danger for motorists.
