Double tragedy as woman dies in hearse carrying dead relative

 

What was meant to be a quiet evening journey to prepare for a dignified burial turned into a horror story on Saturday, when a hearse overturned along the Bokspits–Struizendam gravel road.

The vehicle, belonging to Arable Magic Funeral Parlour, was carrying a coffin with the remains of a family elder. Alongside the driver were two female mourners accompanying the body home for burial preparations.

The accident happened around 18:00 hours, just as the family was preparing to hold the final rites.

Tragedy struck when the driver lost control on the bumpy gravel stretch, riddled with potholes. The vehicle rolled over, leaving destruction in its path.

One of the female passengers died on the spot, while the coffin was flung from the hearse and badly damaged. What should have been the final journey of one family member became the beginning of another funeral.

The driver and the other passenger sustained injuries and were rushed to the nearest hospital for treatment.

Confirming the incident, Bokspits Police Station Commander, Superintendent Lesedi Letshwao, reiterated that the Bokspits–Struizendam road is riddled with potholes and dangerous bumps.

“We continue to urge motorists to slow down and exercise caution when driving there. It is unfortunate that the family, already dealing with one funeral, must now prepare for another,” Letshwao said.

The tragedy has since shaken the community. Residents say poor road conditions in Kgalagadi have long been a death trap, with appeals for maintenance falling on deaf ears.

“We travel these roads every day, and it is a risk we live with. Sadly, this time a family has paid twice,” a resident cried.

Instead of the burial they had prepared for, the family now faces double grief. A send-off meant to bring closure has turned into an unimaginable nightmare, one body on its way to rest, another lost on the journey.