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FOUR people were critically injured when two trucks, both laden with bricks, overturned in separate accidents in Port Elizabeth yesterday.

The first incident occurred at the corner of Whites Road and Govan Mbeki Avenue, near the City Hall, at about 12.30pm.

The truck hit a flagpole and two cars parked near the City Hall.

Onlooker Sinethemba Bebeza said: “I saw the truck speeding down Whites Road. Then it spun around, hitting an electricity pole, and the driver jumped out of the truck.”

Bebeza said she was horrified when the truck overturned and hit the vehicles.

“We were just sitting around and suddenly saw the speeding truck come towards us. It then spun around and we heard a loud bang and the load of bricks came in our direction,” she said.

The truck driver was taken to hospital.

The second incident occurred near St Albans Prison at about 3.55pm, according to police spokesman Inspector Precious Timla. She said the truck had been travelling towards Port Elizabeth when a front tyre burst.

“The police suspect the accident might be the result of overloading,” she said.

“The three people in the truck ... are in a critical condition in Livingstone Hospital.”