A tragic accident in Tulbagh has claimed the lives of a grandmother, her daughter, and two young children after a truck lost its load of plum crates on Monday morning.

The incident occurred at approximately 10:00 on Drostdy Road when the victims were walking towards town from the Vooruitsig farm. According to police, the truck, reportedly travelling at high speed, lost its load as it navigated a bend.

“It is believed that the crates with plums hit the four who were walking on the side of the road,” said police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm Pojie.

A 58-year-old and 25-year-old woman died at the scene. The eight-year-old girl succumbed to her injuries while receiving treatment at a local hospital. The nine-month-old baby boy, who was airlifted to Tygerberg Hospital, tragically passed away on Monday evening.

Billy Claasen, Executive Director of the Rural and Farmworkers Development Organisation, expressed outrage at the incident, citing negligence as a probable cause. He visited Tulbagh shortly after the incident.

“Ek kan nie verstaan hoekom vrugte so ver lê nie. Na bewering na my mening was daardie kratte nie vasgemaak nie. Vrugte lê meer as 100 meter gestrooi,” Claasen said. (I can’t understand why fruit is lying so far away. Allegedly in my opinion those crates were not tied down. Fruit is lying scattered more than 100 meters away.)

Arrests

The 31-year-old truck driver, which Claasen identified as the son of a local farmer, has been arrested and faces culpable homicide charges. Authorities inspected the truck and confirmed the arrest. The driver is expected to appear in court soon.

Claasen says he will monitor the legal proceedings.