A truck driver was killed in a devastating crash on Johannesburg’s N12 westbound on Thursday morning after the heavy load he was transporting shifted forward and crushed the cab of his vehicle during a collision with a minibus taxi.

The fatal accident occurred shortly after the Comaro Road off-ramp in the Bassonia and Gleneagles area, bringing traffic to a near standstill as emergency services battled to clear the wreckage.

According to the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), the collision involved a heavy-tonnage truck and a minibus taxi. The truck driver sustained fatal injuries and was declared dead at the scene.

The taxi driver escaped unharmed, and authorities confirmed that no passengers or other road users were injured in the incident.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the force of the collision caused the truck’s heavy cargo to shift forward, collapsing onto the vehicle’s cabin and fatally trapping the driver.

“The driver of the truck sustained fatal injuries and was declared deceased on the scene. The driver of the minibus taxi escaped with no injuries, and no other injuries have been reported,” JMPD spokesperson Superintendent Xolani Fihla said in a traffic advisory issued on Thursday morning.

Police have not yet released the identity of the deceased, pending the notification of next of kin.

The accident resulted in the closure of three of the four westbound lanes on the N12, leaving only a single lane open to traffic. Recovery operations have proved particularly challenging due to the size and weight of the truck’s load, with specialised recovery teams deployed to remove the cargo before the damaged vehicle can be cleared from the highway.

The extensive operation has caused severe congestion, with queues stretching for several kilometres during the morning rush hour.

JMPD officers remain on the scene directing traffic while emergency personnel continue working to restore the flow of vehicles.

Motorists travelling towards Johannesburg’s western suburbs have been urged to avoid the affected section of the highway and make use of alternative routes. Authorities recommended diversions via the R59, South Rand Road, Verona Street and Rifle Range Road to ease congestion.

Officials warned that delays were expected to continue for several hours while recovery teams safely remove the truck and its cargo from the roadway.

The exact cause of the collision remains under investigation, and authorities will examine whether factors such as speed, following distance, road conditions or mechanical failure played any role in the crash.

The incident once again highlights the dangers associated with heavy freight transport, particularly when large loads become unstable during a collision. Shifted cargo can dramatically increase the severity of crashes, posing a significant risk to truck drivers and other road users.

JMPD appealed to motorists approaching the area to exercise patience, obey traffic officers on the scene and avoid unnecessary travel through the affected stretch of the N12 until recovery operations have been completed.

Further updates are expected as investigators conclude their assessment of the crash scene and the highway is gradually reopened to traffic.