Families of relatives who went missing while travelling on the N3 between Hilton and Cedara in Pietermaritzburg on Monday are urged to call the emergency contact centre. KwaZulu-Natal Transport MEC Sipho Hlomuka said families should call to check if their relatives were not victims of a multiple vehicle collision involving five trucks, eight minibus taxis and 22 light motor vehicles yesterday. Five people also lost their lives. Hlomuka said those who still wish to locate their family members or get a status update on the road, are urged to contact the emergency contact centre number on 033 940 8484 

?ACCIDENT MIGHT HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY BAD WEATHER  

The accident is reported to have been caused by bad weather in Pietermaritzburg. There was slight rainfall and heavy mist. But authorities said the cause of the crash was still unknown and would be investigated. Department of Transport spokesperson Kwanele Ncalane said the road has been cleared and vehicles have started to move amid long backlogs of traffic on the N3 northbound, Johannesburg just before midnight.

ROAD OPENED

He said various government response emergencies had to work tirelessly to ensure the reopening of the freeway. "The road was opened after the recovery of all the five bodies of the deceased, assisting survivors on scene and transporting critical patients to health-care facilities for urgent medical attention. This multi-disciplinary team had to work hard in removing the wreckage of five trucks, eight minibus taxis and 22 light motor vehicles which were involved in the pile-up. We acknowledge the magnitude of this horrific accident and the trauma felt by all those involved is unbearable," Ncalane said.