Car ploughs into responders
A TOW-TRUCK driver, his teenage son, rescue and recovery responders, and a motorist were seriously injured when a vehicle ploughed into them while they were clearing an accident scene.
Ismail Mitha, owner of Big Show Towing and Recovery in Tongaat, said the accident happened on the N2 near Watson Highway on Thursday.
“Four of my staff were on the scene, where an accident had occurred. The car that was involved in the primary accident scene was off the road and so were my tow trucks. It was around 6.30pm when I went out to the scene to assist my team with the clear-up operation.
“By this time, the insurance company had authorised the tow for the primary accident vehicle. We were waiting for a ride service that works with us to take the clients and his personal belongings to his home in Durban North.
“At that time, a man driving a BMW came off the slipway, from the Durban side. He was travelling towards Ballito. He took the slipway, he came down to the bottom, failed to stop at the stop street and proceeded straight across Watson Highway to jump back on to the N2 to head towards Ballito.
“In the process, he did not see a car that was travelling eastbound on Watson Highway. By the time he did, it was too late. He swerved to avoid the other car, but both these drivers ploughed into us and the client. At the time, we were standing on the side of the road.” Mitha said five of them were hit. “I felt completely numb. I could not feel my right hand side. My son had been with my drivers at the primary accident. I looked around for them. I then realised that a CERT Emergency Response member, and the client who was involved in the original accident were on top of me. When I got them off me, I found my son and my other driver. They were both injured. I started calling for emergency services for help.
“That's when I realised that the owner of F1 Towing was stuck underneath the Golf that was involved in the secondary accident. We picked the vehicle up and got him out. And we proceeded with the normal protocol of securing the scene and calling for emergency services and SAPS.”
Mitha said he was disappointed at how the secondary accident was managed. “The sad reality of this whole situation was that when the SAPS arrived, I explained that I witnessed the secondary accident. I told them everything that happened.
“The SAPS just let that man go. He was allowed to drive off from the scene before any person who was injured was treated or removed from the scene.
“My 15-year-old son has severe soft tissue damage.
“My manager has a dislocated ankle and I have a fracturedshoulder, a fractured arm and multiple soft tissue injuries. Another person has to have hip replacement later this week while another broke both his legs and twisted his shoulder.
“The client’s vehicle, which was initially repairable, is now a right-off. Two of my tow trucks were also damaged.
“I have engaged an attorney and I am going to ask them to bring charges against that man.
“He showed no remorse for his actions,” said Mitha.
SAPS spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda did not respond to the allegations by Mitha.
Instead, he said: “A case of reckless and negligent driving has been opened for investigation by Tongaat SAPS after a vehicle collided with the sign post between Watson Highway and N2 North Bound Intersection.
“Five people were injured and were taken to hospital.”