5 family members killed in crash

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MOSSEL BAY NEWS AND VIDEO - The Mkrola family in Mossel Bay is grief-stricken after five of its family members, including four children, died in a horrific head-on collision on Louis Fourie Road.

The accident took place on Wednesday, 10 May, at about 21:00 when the family was travelling in their Ford Ikon sedan en route to the Eastern Cape to fix the graves of loved ones that had been flooded by heavy rains.

PHOTO GALLERY: Horrific head-on collision on Louis Fourie Road

Police spokesperson Sergeant Chris Spies says a preliminary investigation suggests that a Fidelity Guarding Services bakkie was travelling in the direction of Mossel Bay when the Ford Ikon turned right to enter the N2 on-ramp.

A woman inside the bakkie also died in the accident and others were injured. Although it is suspected both vehicles were overloaded, head of group marketing and communications at Fidelity, Charnel Hattingh, told Mossel Bay Advertiser Fidelity was working with the police and added: "Due to the sensitivity of the incident we can't disclose any information which may compromise the investigation."

Deceased

The Mkrola family spokesperson, Thando Hugo, confirmed that the following family members had died: Olwethu Mkrola (25), Awonke Sigidi (13), Hlobisile Mkrola (5), Kamogile Mkrola (4) and Avuzwa Mkrola (3). The family lives in Zone 7 in KwaNonqaba.

Mossel Bay resident and driver of the Ford, Aron Matukane (43) survived the accident and is still in a Mossel Bay hospital, where he is being treated for multiple injuries. He lost his children, Hlobisile and Avuzwa, in the accident. His wife, Zimkhita Mkrola (36), also survived and is still being treated in a George hospital.

Lungisa Mkrola (39) and her son, Mamello Mkrola (5), survived the accident and are recovering at their Mossel Bay home.

ANC ward councillor, Nomsa Mkrola and ANC Western Cape legislator Cameron Dugmore visited the family this week.

Telephone call

Hugo told the Advertiser that they received a telephone call shortly after the crash on Wednesday evening. "We rushed to the scene and saw that the vehicle was smashed. We were so shocked. They were stuck inside the vehicle and they had to cut the vehicle to get them out. We saw how bodies were lying there but we couldn't see the children. When they took away the seats we saw the children lying under the seats. Three of them were already dead. One was still alive."

A memorial service will take place at Isalathiso Primary School on 23 May at 15:00.

The group funeral is being planned for 27 May at Ntabethemba Location in Queenstown. Hugo said family members are in desperate need of funds for the funeral as they have to travel and also arrange for the transportation of the bodies.

Anyone who would like to get in touch with the family can contact Hugo (073 193 4122).

One of those who died was Olwethu Mkrola (25). She worked at PEP in KwaNonqaba Mall. She was the sister of Zimkhita Mkrola (36), who survived and is still in a George hospital.