A head-on auto crash on the M1 Higginson highway near Shallcross in Durban has left one person dead and several others wounded, including two children, Rescue Care Paramedics has said.

The auto crash broke out at around 22:00 on Sunday evening, and, according to Rescue Care Paramedics spokesperson Garrith Jamieson, two vehicles rammed into each other, before blocking the roadway.

"Rescue Care Paramedics arrived on the scene to find chaos and carnage," said Jamieson.

The spokesperson attested that one of the vehicles’ driver passed on as a result of his wounds at the scene of the auto crash.

"One man believed to be the driver of one vehicle had sustained major injuries and there was nothing paramedics could do for the man and he was declared dead on the scene. Four occupants of the same vehicle had sustained major injuries," added Jamieson.

The second driver, according to Jamieson sustained moderate wounds and was taken to hospital for further care.

He added that two children, aged 2 and 10 years old sustained severe wounds, and had to be transported to hospital.

The auto crash comes on the back of the Transport Department announcing on Sunday that 14 people had passed away on the road in Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces since Friday.

"What was meant to be a joyous long weekend has been marred by heartbreaking road crashes where far too many lives have been lost. Without casting aspersions - because the cause of each crash is still under investigation," spokesperson for the Transport Department Ayanda Allie Paine said.