Truck crash kills more than 10

MBABANE – Swaziland’s worst multi-vehicle accident occurred last Tuesday evening during rush hour when a coal truck destined for SA destroyed two lanes of stalled commuter traffic. The dangerous Malagwane Hill was the site of the carnage. At the time of compiling this report more than 10 people were believed dead. FTW has written before of the number of trucks hauling iron ore for the Salgaocar mining firm that have overturned on Malagwane Hill and throughout the country. Both sides of the only highway leading in and out of Mbabane from the east were blocked and drivers were awaiting the road’s reopening after a Salgaocar truck overturned on the median strip. While traffic was halted, higher up on the mountain a coal truck was either travelling too fast and its driver was caught by surprise when he encountered the backedup traffic, or the truck experienced break failure. The truck drove between lanes, knocking cars, bakkies and kombis to the side of the road or causing them to overturn. Several caught fire and their trapped occupants were incinerated.