Photo: Emer-G-Med
Man critically injured when vehicle hit a tree at high impact
Paramedics said a man was critically injured when his vehicle crashed into a tree at high impact in Durban on Saturday evening.
Photo: Emer-G-Med
A man was critically injured when his vehicle crashed into a tree at high impact on Becton Drive in Malvern, west of Durban.
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE ACCIDENT?
According to Emer-G-Med spokesperson Kyle van Reenen, paramedics responded just after 22h30 on Saturday to the scene of a serious motor vehicle collision on Becton Drive in Malvern, west of Durban.
“On arrival on the scene, a light motor vehicle was found to have crashed into a tree at high impact,” Van Reenen said.
He said a man approximately forty years of age, who was seated in the front passenger seat, was found critically injured.
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“Advanced life support intervention was needed to stabilize him before he was placed onto a mechanical ventilator to assist him with breathing and transported rapidly by ambulance to a nearby hospital for further care.
“Two other occupants of the vehicle suffered injuries ranging from minor to moderate and were treated on scene before being taken to the hospital for further care,” Van Reenen said.
WHAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT?
He added that the cause of the incident and the events preceding it are unclear and will form the subject of a South African Police Services investigation.
WHAT TO DO AFTER AN ACCIDENT:
- Stop your car and stay at the scene.
- Firstly, stop your vehicle and, in the interest of road safety, switch on your hazards to warn other drivers. Climb out of your car if it is safe to do so and check if anyone has been hurt. If you can, take pictures of the damage to all the vehicles involved in the incident.
- Help anyone who has been hurt.
- While you can only be criminally charged for causing the accident and any resulting injuries, as a bystander, you have a moral obligation to help someone who has been hurt in a road accident. Help includes contacting an ambulance or rescue unit, even if the injuries do not appear to be serious. It’s critical that you don’t move the injured party and that you do not administer first aid unless you are qualified to do so.
- Get the details
- Record the information of everyone involved in the road accident, including personal details, vehicle registration numbers, tow-truck information, and insurance details. Take note of all road names, landmarks, intersections, and robots, as you will have to draw a sketch and description of the accident on your police report and for insurance purposes.
- Report the accident
- Inform the police within 24 hours of the road accident. If the police come to the scene, don’t move anything until they say you may. Ensure that you get an Accident Report (AR) number, as this is needed for any insurance claim or third-party claim you may lodge.
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