Undocumented Truck Driver Arrested After Fleeing Scene of Overturned Truck Crash on M65 Near King Shaka International Airport
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On Monday, 13 July 2026, a truck crash occurred on the M65 in the La Mercy area near King Shaka International Airport in KwaZulu-Natal. A white Nissan Diesel truck overturned after failing to negotiate a sharp bend, leading to the arrest of its driver, an undocumented foreign national from Malawi.
Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) received multiple emergency calls reporting the incident at approximately 11:33. Officers were dispatched promptly to the scene. Upon arrival, they found the truck lying on its side.
A man present at the scene initially identified himself as the truck’s conductor. He claimed that the driver had already fled before emergency responders arrived. Shortly afterward, this same individual ran into nearby bushes in an apparent attempt to evade authorities. Reaction Officers, assisted by a private security officer, pursued and apprehended him a short distance away.
Further investigation at the scene determined that the apprehended man had falsely presented himself as the conductor. He was in fact the driver of the overturned truck. Two other men at the location, who identified themselves as the actual conductors of the vehicle, confirmed that the suspect had been driving when the truck failed to negotiate the bend and overturned.
The suspect is a foreign national from Mangochi, Malawi, and was found to be in South Africa without legal documentation. Following his arrest, he was handed over to members of the King Shaka International Airport South African Police Service (SAPS) for further investigation.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the crash, including the events leading to the loss of control of the vehicle. It has not been confirmed whether additional charges beyond those related to the flight from the scene and immigration status will be pursued. Details regarding any injuries, damage to other property, or the truck’s cargo were not specified in initial reports.
The incident highlights ongoing challenges related to road safety on routes near major infrastructure hubs like King Shaka International Airport and enforcement of immigration and transport regulations in the trucking sector. The M65 serves as a key arterial road in the region, connecting areas around the airport and surrounding industrial and logistics zones.
No further updates on the suspect’s court appearance or the outcome of the SAPS investigation were available as of the latest reports. The truck was removed from the scene following the response, and normal traffic flow was presumably restored after the clearance operation.
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