Truck driver charged with causing passenger’s death
Nathan Heyligar, the driver who allegedly caused the death of a passenger in his truck during a collision along the Mabura Public Road, was yesterday charged with causing death by dangerous driving.
Heyligar appeared before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan to face the charge that on September 11, he drove motor vehicle PVV 1650 in a manner dangerous to the public, thereby causing the death of Carl Dundas.
Heyligar, 27, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Chief Magistrate set bail at $600,000 and adjourned the matter to October 18.
Dundas, 41, of Kuru Kuru, died after the truck he was travelling in collided with another truck.
Heyligar was hospitalised as a result of the accident, having sustained injuries to his right foot.
Dundas’ wife, Rona, was also injured in the accident.
The three, along with a friend of Heyligar, Alana Barker, who was unhurt, were making their way home from Yarrowkabra on the Linden-Soeskdyke highway after participating in Indigenous Heritage month celebrations.
Heyligar, from his hospital bed, had told this newspaper that he did not see the other truck, which was in front of him, because it had no tail lights. He said when he was alerted it was too late due to the speed at which he was driving. “On the highway, the speed limit is 100 and by the time Carl tell me about the truck, I couldn’t get to stop. The truck was right in front of us,” said Heyligar, who suffered a broken foot and lacerations about his body. He added that if he were driving at a faster rate, other lives could have been lost.
He had also refuted reports that the accident was due to him being intoxicated.