Nineteen (19) people believed to be from the same family were killed while three more were injured in a head-on collision on Saturday night in South Africa.

The accident occurred on the R34 between Bloemhof and Schweizer Reneke in North West when a Toyota Quantum minibus, in which the family members were travelling, collided with a truck.

The North West Department of Community Safety and Transport said that the truck driver escaped unharmed.

The three survivors, two women and a child sustained serious injuries and were admitted to a local hospital in critical condition.

The North West MEC for Community Safety and Transport, Sello Lehari, consoled the families of the deceased and appealed to motorists to exercise caution on the roads. Said Lehari:

What does one say when life turns out like this? I am heart-wrenched. My sincere condolences to the families. May the souls of the deceased rest in peace.

Road users, let us please pay extra attention when on the road. It is in our hands to save each other’s lives.

We can only do this if we practice responsible driving and are cautious on the road.