It took 24 hours to clear the road after two truck accidents on the N2 near Nanaga at the start of the weekend, and there were angry scenes as road users berated workers at the scene for the blockage.
It took 24 hours to clear the road after two truck accidents on the N2 near Nanaga at the start of the weekend, and there were angry scenes as road users berated workers at the scene for the blockage.
A truck carrying tomatoes crashed near the Nanaga junction.
There are differing versions of when this occurred.
According to Kinkelbos police, the accident was reported at 4.30am on Saturday 15 April.
“According to our report the brakes failed on a truck carrying tomatoes travelling on the N2 towards Port Elizabeth from Grahamstown,” Constable Burwuana told Grocott’s Mail this morning.
“Only one truck was involved. No one was injured,” Kinkelbos Station Commander Captain Sijako had told Grocott’s Mail earlier.
Burwuana explained this morning that there had been a report of a second truck further up the N2, but this had not been reported at the police station.
“The towing company was instructed to return at 7am,” Burwuana said.
The tow truck company’s account differs, however.
“The crash happened at 6pm on Friday night,” said an employee of the company who asked not to be named.
“However, because it was dark, the police told us to return at 7am on Saturday.”
The employee said they had faced the wrath of not only members of the public, but also the police, as they blocked off the road in an effort to remove the tomato truck from the culvert where it was lodged.
Complicating the clean-up was the fact that farmers, whose produce was on the truck, didn’t want to lose their valuable load.
That in addition to the need to re-open the road quickly meant the team had to secure the load before attempting to retrieve the truck.
“Normally we’d just cut off the load and take out the truck. But to clean up the road after a mess like that the road would have to have been closed for one or two days,” said the source.
He said following extended negotiations and angry exchanges with members of the public, it was agreed to open the road for a short period to let traffic through, before closing it off for another 40 minutes to retrieve the truck from the ditch.
Among those anxious to pass through were a rugby team on its way to a match in Grahamstown, and passengers on a long-distance bus.
“The road was re-opened after the truck’s load was stabilised,” said the towing company employee.
He said a second truck had crashed further up the road, as a result of braking quickly when it encountered the backed-up traffic as it came around a corner.
“It jack-knifed and went into the railings.
“Altogether there was disruption to traffic for around four hours.”
Commenting on Grocott's Mail''s Facebook post yesterday, Ros Honey Jordan wrote, "I was stuck in this yesterday! I cannot get over how many impatient drivers did u turns and almost hit many other cars!! I don't think I was there for 2 hours! but long enough!!!"
Grahamstown resident Sarah Cohen, who travelled the route twice that day, said the road was cleared of all debris by 5pm on Saturday.
