[Image: Cape SPCA]
Traffic on the N2 at Sir Lowry’s Pass came to a halt on Tuesday after a nasty crash between a container truck and a livestock trailer carrying 200 pigs.
The scene was chaotic – injured pigs and carcasses scattered across the road, with smoke pouring from a burning vehicle on the embankment. The Cape of Good Hope SPCA, along with three other animal welfare groups, jumped into action to handle the situation.
The crash left the livestock trailer crushed and stranded in the middle of the road, completely blocking traffic. The flatbed truck veered off the road, spilling its container and catching fire. Amid the wreckage, four pigs were found dead, while two others were so badly injured they had to be humanely put down.
Smile.FM reports that the collision resulted in injuries to two truck drivers as well.
Traffic on the N2 at Sir Lowry’s Pass came to a standstill today following a devastating collision between a container truck and a livestock trailer carrying 200 pigs. pic.twitter.com/y8wSHS6T8J
— Vehicle Trackers (@VehicleTrackerz) January 21, 2025
Around 09:30 AM, it was reported that a fruit truck travelling on the N2 slammed into the back of a truck transporting the 200 pigs. According to Western Cape SAPS, the fruit truck was speeding, and the driver tried to brake but couldn’t stop due to brake failure. The collision sparked a fire in the fruit truck.

“On impact the truck with the fruits rolled down the side of the pass and the container with the fruits broke off from the rest of the truck. The truck then rolled down the slope and started to burn,” said provincial police spokesperson Frederick Van Wyk.

Both truck drivers sustained injuries in the crash and were rushed to a medical facility for treatment.
“It was a scene of unimaginable distress,” shared Chief Inspector Jaco Pieterse of the SPCA. “But despite the chaos, the collaborative efforts of animal rescue teams, emergency services, and law enforcement made a significant difference.”
While police worked to keep the scene moving along, the City of Cape Town Fire & Rescue worked tirelessly to cool the pigs on the trailer by spraying them with water to alleviate their suffering in the sweltering heat.

While police shared that an Accident Report will be opened, it is still unclear whether the fruit truck driver will be facing any criminal charges.