Emergency services had on Monday said four people were murdered as 18 others were wounded when a bakkie rolled off the R40 near Hazyview in Mpumalanga.

ER24 spokesperson, Russel Meiring said their paramedics, along with several other emergency services, arrived at the scene at 8:10am to find the bakkie lying upright on the side of the road.

Meiring said the workers that had been on the back of the vehicle were discovered lying scattered around the scene.

Local authorities began to close off the road while emergency personnel set up a triage area and attended to the patients.

“On assessment, paramedics found that three men had sustained numerous fatal injuries. Nothing could be done for them and they were declared dead.

"Three other men were found to be in a critical condition while 16 others had sustained minor to moderate injuries,” He added.

Meiring attested that paramedics treated the patients and provided the brutally wounded with advanced life support interventions.

“Once treated, one of the critically injured men was airlifted by a private medical helicopter to a nearby hospital.

“Unfortunately, upon arrival, the patient succumbed to his injuries and was declared dead,” he said.

All other patients were treated and taken to proximal hospitals for further treatment.

The details revolving around this scene were being probed by local authorities.