THE bridge construction crew were high up on the scaffolding, busy with their dangerous work.
Suddenly residents around Lindelani, north of Durban, heard chilling screams of pain and alarm after a loud bang shattered the Wednesday afternoon.
Shocked residents rushed over expecting to find a scene of death and destruction – but thanked the ancestors when only one worker was found injured.
According to a worker, a truck driving past accidentally hit the scaffolding, which immediately crashed down.
“The truck was damaged and a colleague known only as Masuku was injured. He got stuck underneath the scaffolding and had to be rescued before being transported to hospital,” he said.
He added that the mood on the construction site changed after the shocking incident and all the workers now feared for their lives.
“The incident came as a great shock to us, but after Masuku was transported to hospital we had to return to work.”
The bridge is being constructed by Group Five on Dumisane Makhaye Drive.
Site manager Sanele Shangase said the worker sustained minor injuries.
He declined to give more details and said the company and eThekwini Municipality would issue a statement together later.
The bridge is part of the municipality’s plan to expand Dumisani Makhaye Drive to prepare for Go! Durban buses.
EThekwini spokeswoman Tozi Mthethwa confirmed the city was aware of the incident.
“One construction worker from the Group Five construction company was slightly injured and was taken to hospital for tests and observation. It is expected he will return to work this week,” she said.