The driver accused of killing three people when his truck ploughed into 48 vehicles in Alberton, was previously acquitted of culpable homicide, the Palm Ridge Magistrate's Court heard on Wednesday.

Isaac Wade Maruding was acquitted of culpable homicide in 1996 and found guilty of reckless or negligent driving instead, Warrant Officer Joas Phokungwane testified in his bail application.

He was handed a suspended 18-month jail sentence.

A few years later Maruding was convicted of culpable homicide on a separate matter. This caused his suspended 18-month sentence to come into effect and he was jailed. His driver's licence was endorsed for a year.

Phokungwane told the court Maruding fled the scene of the accident on the N12 East in Alberton on the morning of October 14. Police had to contact his employer to find him. Maruding, a married father of two, was arrested in Potchefstroom. He and his family live in Viljoenskroon in the Free State.

He faces three charges of culpable homicide and one charge of reckless or negligent driving.

"He was not at the scene and there was no record that he was taken to hospital," he said.

Phokungwane said it would not be in the interests of justice to release Maruding on bail.

Referring to the accident report, Phokungwane said the 48 vehicles involved in the crash had been stationary.

"There was a traffic jam," he said.