THREE taxis crash during peak hour.
The taxis were travelling on the N2 in Cape Town to Khayelitsha on Monday, 4 May after dropping off passengers. No commuters were in the taxis at the time of the crash.
An onlooker claimed the drivers were speeding and chasing more trips.
"They were driving fast and very close to each other. One taxi suddenly slowed down. I don't know what he saw. The one behind tried to swerve, but it was too late and crashed. The third one also got involved," said the motorist.
He said the scene was chaotic, but he could not stop. "It was dramatic, but I was late for work so I had to continue," he said.
A taxi owner rushed to the scene after getting a call. He found his driver injured. "When I arrived, they were pulling my driver out of the taxi. He was injured. I thank God he survived and I hope he recovers," said the taxi boss.
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He said mornings are busy for taxi drivers. "They drop people in town and rush back to kasi to pick up more. There are not many people waiting in town, so drivers don't stay long. He was trying to catch peak hour traffic," he said.
The crash caused delays on the busy highway.
City of Cape Town traffic services spokesman Kevin Jacobs said: "The City's Traffic Services responded to an accident on the N2 earlier this morning in which three taxis were involved. The N2 outbound was closed temporarily. Three people sustained serious injuries and were taken to hospital," said Jacobs.
Cops and emergency services were on the scene. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
Residents and motorists have raised concerns about reckless driving during peak hours. Many said drivers often speed and compete for passengers, putting lives at risk.
