Serious Injuries in Buffelsdraai Vehicle Plunge Off Bridge in Verulam

In the early hours of Saturday morning, a vehicle plunged off a bridge into a river in the Buffelsdraai area of Verulam, KwaZulu-Natal, resulting in serious injuries to its occupants.

Emergency responders received multiple reports from passing motorists about the incident. KZN VIP Emergency Medical Services were dispatched to the scene.

According to available information, the vehicle was rear-ended by another vehicle. This impact caused it to leave the roadway, go off the bridge, and come to rest down an embankment in the river below.

Two occupants were trapped inside the wrecked vehicle. Fire Department personnel arrived and collaborated with KZN VIP medics to extricate the trapped individuals. The rescue teams worked under challenging conditions to free the patients and carry them up the embankment to an awaiting ambulance at road level.

Advanced Life Support medics from KZN VIP provided on-scene stabilization for the seriously injured patients. They were then transported to a nearby medical facility for further assessment and treatment.

The response highlighted effective coordination between the Fire Department and emergency medical services, enabling a swift extrication and rescue operation despite the difficult terrain and location.

This incident adds to road safety concerns in the Verulam and surrounding areas, where bridges and embankments have featured in previous accidents. No further details on the identities of the occupants, the other vehicle involved, or the exact cause beyond the reported rear-end collision were immediately available. Investigations into the circumstances are expected to continue.