Five people have died after a minibus taxi collided with a Mercedes-Benz sedan and overturned before catching fire at the intersection of Pretoria Main Road and Maxwell Drive in Waterfall, Midrand.
The crash occurred on Tuesday evening, according to the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) confirmed earlier this week. The collision was serious and involved two vehicles, with emergency services arriving to assist at the scene.
JMPD spokesperson Superintendent Xolani Fihla said law enforcement officers and emergency services responded to the scene of the severe two-vehicle collision. Speaking to media after the incident, Fihla said: “Regrettably, five fatalities have been confirmed on scene from the minibus taxi,” Fihla said.
He added that the status of the occupants of the Mercedes-Benz sedan had yet to be confirmed, with responders continuing their work at the site.
The intersection, located at one of the busier points in the area, was closed in all directions following the crash. Authorities said the closure led to major delays in Midrand and Waterfall during peak traffic hours on Tuesday evening, as commuters were forced to navigate around the scene.
Traffic disruption was compounded by the emergency response, with crews dealing with an overturned taxi and a vehicle fire that intensified the complexity of the scene. Investigators and first responders worked under difficult conditions as they carried out assessments and ensured the area was safe.
The incident has raised fresh concern about road safety in the region, particularly after a fatal collision on a major highway just a week earlier.
The crash comes a week after three people were killed in a head-on collision on the N1 Ben Schoeman Highway. Netcare 911 spokesperson Shawn Herbst said an SUV and a light motor vehicle were involved in that collision.
“There were no survivors after the head-on crash,” Herbst said.
Herbst said paramedics found the driver of the SUV, an adult man, with fatal injuries and declared him dead at the scene. He added that the SUV’s passenger, an adult woman, was critically injured and died despite advanced life-support resuscitation efforts.
“The driver of the light motor vehicle, an adult man, was also found with no signs of life and declared dead at the scene.” Herbst said.
Netcare 911 further stated that a rescue technician, along with fire and rescue services, used hydraulic tools to free the victims from the wreckage, underscoring the seriousness of that earlier crash and the extent of damage sustained by vehicles.
In Tuesday’s incident in Midrand, the circumstances leading up to the taxi and sedan collision are also under investigation. The JMPD said the investigation is ongoing and will determine what caused the vehicles to collide and overturn.
While the fatalities confirmed on scene relate to the minibus taxi, investigators still need to establish the full details of how the crash unfolded, including factors such as vehicle movement, speed, and the sequence of events immediately prior to impact.
With the intersection closed and traffic severely affected during the evening rush, the incident served as a grim reminder of how quickly routine travel can turn tragic. Emergency services were called to the location, and responders worked to manage the dangers of a fire and the challenges presented by the overturned vehicle.
Authorities are expected to update the public as investigations progress and as information about the Mercedes-Benz occupants becomes available.
For now, the focus remains on the ongoing police inquiry, while the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives await answers about what led to the collision at Pretoria Main Road and Maxwell Drive.
