Two women escaped death on Friday when their vehicle hit a palm tree in Durban';s plush Umhlanga suburb.

Lunchtime traffic was withheld while emergency workers attempted to save the elderly woman and a domestic worker from the wreckage.

Crisis Medical spokesperson, Kyle van Reenen attested that the driver and passenger, aged between 40 and 70, had to be cut free with jaws-of-life at Umhlanga Ridge';s Millennial Way.

"They were placed on to specialised stretchers used for the treatment and prevention of spinal cord injuries.

"They were transported to hospital under the care of intermediate life support medics.

"Traffic was severely affected as two lanes were closed to allow emergency workers space to work," the Crisis Medical spokesperson attested.