A father and his 9-year old son lost their lives, while a 4-year old girl was critically injured in a horror crash that happened along the R102 in Phoenix on Tuesday, 21 February. It is alleged that the vehicle crashed into a heavy goods that had reportedly veered across the road.

According to Netcare911 Coastal Media Liaison, Chris Botha, the truck driver allegedly lost control of the truck while rounding a bend. The truck then flipped onto its side, spilling its load of sand onto the road.

"When emergency teams arrived at the scene, they found the vehicle trapped under the truck with the three occupants trapped inside," he explained.

Botha said that after assessing the scene, it was established that the man and his son had died on impact, while the 4-year old girl was critically injured and trapped in the twisted wreckage.

"Netcare rescue officer and the emergency services worked fervently for more than two hours to free the critically injured girl. After she was stabilised on scene, they transported her to an area hospital for the care that she required," Botha stated.

Using the Jaws of Life as well as heavy duty crane emergency personnel had nearly a three-hour ordeal to free the bodies of the father and his son from the mangled wreckage of their vehicle.

"The driver of the truck left the scene before the arrival of the emergency services," Botha concluded.