Tow truck driver fatally injured in accident

A tow truck driver tragically died in flames after a speeding vehicle collided with his tow truck while he was towing a stranded truck on the R102 in Durban on Saturday evening.

The accident occurred after midnight on Saturday on the R102 near Woodview Cemetery when the tow truck driver was assisting a stranded truck.

The operator’s tow truck was allegedly hit by a speeding vehicle that crashed his tow truck into the broken-down truck, causing it to catch fire.

ALSO READ | ‘God really saved my life,’ says RTI officer who survived N3 accident

Various emergency services responded to an emergency call about an accident between the Palmview exit and Phoenix.

According to KZN VIP Medics, the tow truck was engulfed in flames upon arrival at the scene and the driver was trapped in the wreckage.

The truck driver, who was assisted by the tow truck driver, suffered serious injuries, was stabilized and taken to hospital.

“It is believed that the driver of the tow truck, while parked behind the truck with the yellow light on, was hit at high speed by a VW Golf, which pushed the tow truck into the truck and immediately burst into flames. Witnesses and people who were at the scene of the accident also reported that the driver of the Golf was taken away by the police for examination,” the paramedics said in a statement.

Medics from KZN VIP Medics said it was a huge loss for the towing community and expressed their condolences to the family.