By Nontsikelelo Ngubane

Twenty seven people died in Pinetown when a truck collided into four minibus taxis and a carlast night.

“Close to 80 people were injured and out of that total, seven of them were critically injured and 8 were seriously injured. But the other 11 had minor injuries,” said ER24 paramedic on scene, Ndumiso Khoza.

A vehicle that was crashed in Fields Hill Pinetown.

The injured patients were taken to the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital. The truck allegedly crashed into the vehicles when the brakes failed to hold.

The bodies covered in silver sheets were aligned next to each other right across the scene.

The KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson, Vincent Mdunge, has confirmed the arrest of the truck driver and said that he is currently held at the Pinetown Police Station.

“He is being charged with culpable homicide, negligence and reckless driving,” said Mdunge.

This accident has also shocked the Acting President, Jeff Radebe, according to the Presidency spokesperson Mac Maharaj.

“The loss of such a high number of people, some of them breadwinners is painful and has affected so many households negatively,” Radebe said in a statement.

The Presidency further urged road users, especially drivers, to exercise caution on the roads especially when carrying passengers.