A multi vehicle collision on the N3 in KwaZulu-Natal claimed the lives of 16 people.

The crash occurred between Peter Drown Drive and the Chatterton Road off-ramp in Pietermaritzburg in the early hours of yesterday morning.

It’s understood that a truck driver lost control of the vehicle and plunged into ten other vehicles which then burst into flames.

According to the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), the wheels of the truck came off resulting in the driver losing control of the vehicle and overturning onto the centre embankment.

RTMC spokesperson Simon Zwane says a full mechanical investigation will be conducted to look at the vehicles and whether there were any failures that contributed to the fatal crash.