Five people were killed when a minibus taxi and car collided in a fiery crash on the R614 near Appelsbosch in central KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday.

ER24 spokesman Russel Meiring said paramedics had rushed to the scene only to find the taxi and car still ablaze at the roadside.

“Assessments showed that five patients had sustained fatal injuries in the collision. Three were found to have come from the light motor vehicle while the two others had come from the taxi‚” he said.

Meiring said 12 other people were injured in the crash.

“Twelve other patients were assessed on the scene. The injuries sustained ranged from critical to minor‚” he said.

“Paramedics treated the patients and provided the critically injured with advanced life support interventions before they were transported to various hospitals for further treatment.”