Two people were seriously injured and fourteen others sustained minor injuries in an accident involving ten cars, three trucks and a taxi on the N12 highway near Eldorado Park on Thursday.

Johannesburg emergency services spokesperson Percy Morokane said the accident happened around 6.20pm on the south bound carriageway and forced the closure of the highway south-bound for almost two hours.

One of the seriously injured people was taken to the Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital and the other was taken to the Lenmed hospital in Lenasia.

Fourteen other people with minor injuries were taken to Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital for assessment.

The injured were driving in some of the cars and in the taxi.

One of the trucks was carrying vehicles to Kimberley when it was involved in the collision but the truck driver managed to get his horse and trailer under control and the vehicles it carried were not badly damaged.

Johannesburg metro police attended the scene. A case of reckless and negligent driving was being investigated.

The south-bound carriageway reopened around 8.15pm.

"People should exercise extreme caution when driving through peak-hour traffic. Obey the rules and keep a safe following distance," Morokane said.