At 07:30 on the R45 between Gouda and Ceres (Saron) - Medical Rescuers and Emergency Medical Personnel worked two and a half hours to medically treat and assist 56 patients from the scene of a motor vehicle accident. The EMS Incident Commander confirmed that a truck carrying workers was travelling towards Wolseley when it collided with a stationary road works vehicle (harvesting machine). The force of the impact caused the trailer at the back of the truck to plunge off the bridge of the R45 and into the river.
Of the 56 patients:
Fifty-four of the patients were transported to Paarl Hospital, Paarl Medi-clinic and Tygerberg Hospitals by EMS and ER24 ambulances. The AMS Rescue Chopper and the ER24 Discovery Medicopter each airlifted one critical patient to a health facility.
EMS dispatched 30 emergency medical practitioners (comprised of ambulance and rescue units), eight paramedics and an emergency medical doctor. Rescue 6 (a big truck used for heavy vehicle extrication) was dispatched to the scene of the incident to assist with the removal of wreckage and rescuers are currently using Rescue 6 to remove the trailer from the river.
The rescue was completed within two and a half hours. All patients are currently being transported to a health facility, if not already in definitive care. EMS Rescuers are currently assisting with the clearing up of the scene to ensure safety for road users.
Keri Davids
Tel: 021 948 9908
Cell: 083 286 4227
E-mail: kerdavid@pgwc.gov.za