Car didn’t kill elderly cyclist

Died from stroke says family

CYCLIST Anthony “Tubby” Hayward died of natural causes and not because of injuries sustained in a vehicle collision, his family said this week.

Hayward, 70, collided with a VW Polo on the morning of April 29 between Western Avenue and Vincent Road. He was riding his bicycle on his way to work.

His daughter Hylie Hayward this week told the Saturday Dispatch that her father had died of a heart attack and not as a result of the accident.

She said the woman behind the wheel at the time of the accident, Fikile Fihla, was not the cause of her father’s death.

“I know wherever she [Fihla] is, she is beating herself up for thinking she killed my father but she did not. She must stop blaming herself and move on with her life,” Hayward said.

She said contrary to rumours that her father had been decapitated on impact, he had only suffered a bruise to his ribs.

Contacted for comment yesterday, Fihla said Hayward’s family had made contact with her.

“But I do not want to speak about it as the matter is still a subject of police investigation.”

Police spokesman Captain Mluleki Mbi said a case of culpable homicide was still being investigated.

“The case will follow due processes like any other case until it is finalised,” Mbi said. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za