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Three police officers, two awaiting-trial prisoners and a civilian driver were killed in a head-on collision involving a police vehicle and a bakkie on the R524 Levubu Road in Limpopo on Tuesday morning.
Limpopo police spokesperson Brig Hlulani Mashaba said the SAPS vehicle from Tshilwavhusiku police station was transporting three awaiting-trial prisoners to a correctional facility in Thohoyandou when it collided with a white Mahindra bakkie belonging to Tshisimani Water.
Five people were certified dead at the scene by emergency medical services. One male and two female police officers were killed. The two prisoners who died were both male, while the driver of the civilian vehicle was also a male.
A third police officer, who was seriously injured and taken to a local hospital, later died.
Mashaba said the third awaiting-trial prisoner sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital under police guard.
A case of culpable homicide has been opened at Makhado police station and the circumstances surrounding the crash are being investigated.
The identities of the deceased are known but have not yet been released, pending notification of their next of kin.
Limpopo police commissioner Lt-Gen Jan Petrus Scheepers conveyed his condolences to the families, colleagues and loved ones of those killed.
“We extend our sincere condolences to all the bereaved families, colleagues and loved ones of those who lost their lives in this tragic incident. We also wish the injured a speedy recovery,” he said.
TimesLIVE
Mmatumelo Lebjane
www.timeslive.co.za
