Michelé Lombard Obituary, Family of Four Killed in Garden Route N2 Accident, HEIDELBERG, WESTERN CAPE — A family of four, including two brothers aged 13 and 20, were killed in a devastating head-on collision between a minibus and an SUV on the N2 outside Heidelberg in South Africa’s Garden Route region on Tuesday.
The crash, which occurred at approximately 9:30 a.m., claimed the lives of five people and left 10 others seriously injured. Police confirmed that a culpable homicide docket has been opened as authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the fatal collision.
Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Christopher Spies said officers arrived at the scene and found a Toyota minibus and an SUV involved in a head-on crash. Several occupants sustained multiple injuries, and three victims were declared dead at the scene by medical personnel.
Two additional victims were later transported to hospitals in Cape Town and Riversdale with serious injuries but later died. The victims included a 13-year-old boy who died on Tuesday night and his 20-year-old brother, who passed away at a Cape Town hospital on Wednesday morning.
The brothers and their parents, a 44-year-old father and 41-year-old mother, are believed to have been travelling together in the SUV. Police said the family had not yet been publicly identified.
The fifth person killed in the crash was Michelé Lombard, 34, a resident of the Eljada Nasorgsentrum in Oudtshoorn, a residential care facility for adults with intellectual disabilities. The centre paid tribute to Lombard, describing her as a beloved member of their community who brought joy, kindness, and dedication to those around her.
Hessequa Mayor Grant Riddles expressed sadness over the tragedy and offered condolences to the families affected. He also wished a speedy recovery to those injured in the crash.
Authorities said the minibus was believed to have been travelling towards Swellendam, while the SUV was travelling in the opposite direction when the collision occurred. The investigation into the cause of the crash remains ongoing.
