Bystander tries to help, man dies
MBOMBELA - A man was killed and another sustained minor injuries when a minibus crashed head-on into a light motor vehicle on the R40 in Riverside on
October 1.
The minibus involved in the accident was not a taxi, as has been widely speculated, but a vehicle belonging to the police’s Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit.
This is according to Capt Zandile Gqawa, the spokesperson for the Nelspruit SAPS. Gqawa said a case of culpable homicide has been opened.
A Tyres and More employee, Jéan Gerber, rushed to the scene as soon as it happened in an effort to assist George Damster, the man who died in the accident.
“The whole right side of the car was gone, so we went around to the left-hand side to try and open the door, but it was locked. Eventually we managed to get it open.
“I really, really tried to help, but could not. We looked each other in the eyes and he gave his last breath.”
Gerber said he will always remember the song that was playing in the car on Jacaranda as he was trying to help Damster.
“I do not know who sings the song, but the lyrics were ‘I’m thinking about you…’”
According to its spokesperson, Russel Meiring, ER24 arrived at the scene at 07:20 to find a man trapped inside the light motor vehicle in the road (heading towards White River), while the minibus was a short distance away against the roadside barriers.
Meiring said, “It is believed that the driver lost control of his minibus, causing it to veer into oncoming traffic.
“Medics assessed the patients and found that the entrapped man had already succumbed to his numerous injuries while the [other] driver had escaped with minor injuries.”
The deceased had to be removed from his vehicle using the Jaws of Life. Afterwards both vehicles were cleared from the scene allowing traffic to flow freely again.
Meiring said the minibus driver was treated for his injuries and was later transported to a nearby hospital for further care.