Driver Arrested for Clocking 170km/h in Accident That Killed 5 in Ermelo, Mpumalanga

• Five people were killed in a crash on the N2 near Ermelo in Mpumalanga on 13 June 2025
• The driver of one of the vehicles was speeding at over 170 kilometres per hour when he collided with another vehicle
• He veered off into a truck, and five passengers in the other vehicle died; the driver who survived was arrested and charged with drunk driving

For seven years, Tebogo Mokwena, a journalist at Briefly News in Johannesburg, South Africa, covered a range of topics, including accidents, fires, outbreaks, nature, weather, and natural disaster-related incidents, at Daily Sun and Vutivi Business News.

ERMELO, MPUMALANGA — Five people were killed in an accident on the N2 in Ermelo, Mpumalanga, on 13 June 2025, after the driver of another vehicle crashed into another vehicle at breakneck speed. The driver was arrested and will appear in court soon.

What happened in Ermelo?

According to eNCA, the driver of one of the cars was speeding at over 170 kilometers when he crashed into a seven-seater sedan. He reportedly ignored warnings from law enforcement officers to stop his vehicle.

The driver, who was alone, was arrested and charged with excessive speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol, and failing to stop when ordered by a law enforcement officer. He is expected to appear in court, and the Mpumalanga provincial government is investigating the cause of the accident.

Recent accidents in South Africa

• A total of 15 people were killed in an accident between a taxi and a bakkie on the R63 in the Eastern Cape on 4 May 2025
• Four people were killed in a horrific bus accident on the N2 in Plettenberg Bay in the Western Cape on 6 May
• An Eastern Cape bakkie crash claimed four lives, including three teenagers coming home from a soccer tournament on 11 May
• An Eastern Cape accident on the R102 in the Eastern Cape killed one person and injured two people on 18 May
• A joyride in Brakpan, Ekurhuleni, ended in tears when an 11-year-old boy fatally hit a teenager and crashed into a wall on 7 June

What did South Africans say?

Netizens commenting on eNCA's Facebook post shared their views.

SE Blessing Bongani Sibande said:

"This is very horrific. Condolences are in order."

Rodgers Banes said:

"Guys, I always saw overspeeding and dating more than one woman as old-fashioned. There's no more fun in that."

Halley Ndlovu said:

"Remove those trucks. The N2 is too congested, all in the name of looting."

Lebogang Lebza said:

"Speed kills. I'm even afraid to go with cars."

Thoks Will asked:

"Why is that speeding driver not charged with culpable homicide?"

Paul Stan Ford said:

"170km/h with a Corolla was clearly a suicide attempt."

Victims of aircraft crash found

In a related article, Briefly News reported that three bodies were found after the remains of a missing aircraft, which disappeared after taking off from KwaZulu-Natal on 9 June 2025. The flight was en route to the Eastern Cape.

The body of a student pilot, Nqobile Biyela, was found on 10 June 2025. South Africans were devastated by the accident.

Source: Briefly News