Minister Carlisle Releases N1 Crash Statistics

Robin Carlisle, the Minister for Transport and Public Works in the Western Cape, has released crash statistics for the Laingsburg to Prince Albert section of the N1 for the past ten years, saying that he planned to introduce Average Speed Over Distance Cameras (ASOD) over the stretch "as quickly as we can".

"The crash occurred in a very clearly demarcated 80 km/h zone. We expect that very serious charges - murder or culpable homicide - will be brought against the two surviving drivers, one from the truck and the other from the second taxi to crash into the truck's side."

The dead include 12 adult females and one girl, six adult males and one boy. The driver of the first taxi to crash into the truck has not been identified, but is assumed to have been amongst the dead.

Provincial Health Services have confirmed that there were 20 dead, 17 injured and seven unharmed.

The seriously injured are being treated in hospitals in Beaufort West, George and Tygerburg, while the less seriously injured received treatment in Prince Albert and Laingsburg.

The minister said that post mortems would be carried out in Oudtshoorn from tomorrow.

"Besides the introduction of ASOD cameras on that stretch of the N1, we will intensify our focus on the causes and prevention of major accidents."

"I am particularly concerned about fully loaded taxis travelling, often with packed trailers, at 100 km/h."

You can download the crash statistics for the Laingsburg to Prince Albert section of the N1.