The KwaZulu-Natal Transport Department says its video footage shows that the crash in which 17 people were killed at Van Reenen’s Pass happened after the driver of the minibus taxi apparently lost control of the vehicle.

This led to a collision with the truck. The department says it was raining heavily and it was dark and misty on the Pass when the crash occurred on Monday night.

Traffic officials say they suspect that heavy rainfall, speed, vehicle defect, or driver negligence caused the crash.

Traffic officials have been monitoring the roads in the province as heavy rains continue to pour:

Both vehicles were in the fast lanes and were travelling in opposite directions of the N3.

It has been established that the minibus taxi with 18 passengers, was travelling from Qumbu in the Eastern Cape to Gauteng, while the truck was heading to Durban.

The deceased include seven men, three women, three boys and four girls. The only survivor is a one-year-old girl who is recovering in hospital.

The driver of the truck allegedly fled the scene of the crash. Investigations are under way.