Five people were killed instantly on Sunday night, in a head on collision on the R61 between Tarkastad and Queenstown where a BMW and a Double Cab bakkie collided.
A further 4 people were seriously injured and taken to hospital.
The Deputy Director of Provincial Traffic Charles Bramwell said 2 people in the BMW were killed and 3 died in the Double Cab.
The jaws of life had to be used to cut the bodies from the wreckage.
The death toll on Eastern Cape roads since the beginning of December now stands at more than 170 from 181 road accidents involving 245 vehicles.
Department spokesperson, Ncedo Kumbaca said for the period 23 - 25 December alone, 14 fatalities were reported from 18 accidents.
Meanwhile there was another drowning tragedy in the Eastern Cape on Sunday when a man in his mid-30s drowned while trying to rescue his son in a strong rip current at the Beachview resort west of Port Elizabeth.
The Herald reports that 7 year old boy was saved by a local surfer.
The incident took place at about 11 o'clock on Sunday morning morning.
The deceased has been identified as 36 year-old Selwyn Case.
