Another Cow Crash Pushes June Injury Toll to 20

Another vehicle has collided with a cow on an Eastern Cape road, adding to what is becoming an alarming pattern of livestock-related crashes across the district.

The latest incident occurred on Saturday evening, 27 June, on the R61 near Qombolo outside Cofimvaba, when a white Toyota Fortuner carrying five occupants struck a cow that had entered the roadway.

Emergency services treated all five occupants at the scene. Two people sustained moderate injuries and were transported to Cofimvaba Hospital for further medical treatment, while three others escaped with minor injuries.

No one was trapped in the vehicle and no fatalities were reported.

Traffic officials, emergency medical services, members of the South African Police Service and towing services attended the scene.

The collision is the latest in a growing list of livestock-related crashes reported by Komani News during June.

The first was recorded on 6 June near Tarkastad, where six people were injured after a vehicle struck a cow on the R61.

A day later, another motorist collided with a cow near Lesseyton, leaving one person injured.

On 8 June, a third crash involving livestock was reported on the R61, with one person injured.

Three women were injured in another collision near Komani on 10 June after their vehicle struck a cow.

On 12 June, two people were injured when a vehicle collided with a cow near Tambo Village between Komani and Whittlesea.

The situation turned tragic on 14 June when a taxi collided with a cow on the R61, killing one woman and leaving five other passengers injured.

Another cow-related collision was then reported near Lesseyton on 19 June, although no injuries were recorded in that incident.

With the latest crash near Cofimvaba now added to the list, Komani News has recorded at least eight livestock-related crashes on the district’s roads during June, leaving at least 20 people injured and one person dead.

The incidents have been reported on some of the region’s busiest routes, including the N6, R61 and R67.

For many motorists travelling these roads, particularly after sunset when visibility deteriorates, the sight of livestock near or on the roadway has become an increasingly common hazard.

As the number of collisions continues to climb, residents are increasingly asking what measures can be put in place to keep animals off major roads before another family receives devastating news.