Doctor’s wife dies, son badly hurt in Peddie crash

The wife of ear, nose and throat specialist Dr Iain Butler was killed and their son badly injured in a car accident near Peddie on Saturday.

Butler, who practises at Life St George’s Hospital in Gqeberha, suffered several fractures and is being treated at St George’s.

St George’s manager John Fidler said the family was on the road for a school rugby derby day at a Komani school for their son, Joshua, 18, who attends Grey High School.

“Our information is that a truck’s brakes failed and it collided with [the Butlers’ vehicle].

“It is devastating to share that Dr Butler’s wife [Michelle] died on the scene.

“His son, Joshua, was badly hurt and was flown by helicopter to St George’s.

“Dr Butler suffered several fractures and was transported to St George’s by ambulance.”

Fidler said Butler’s daughter was not in the car as she had stayed in Gqeberha with her grandmother while the family drove up to Komani.

Gardmed owner Dave Gardner said his team had been brought in to assist and had rendezvoused at a nearby state medical facility in Peddie.

“We transported Dr Butler back to St George’s in a Gardmed ambulance.

“Dr Butler’s son was evacuated in a government ambulance helicopter.”

Police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu said police in Peddie were investigating the accident.

“It is alleged that at about 10.30am, the driver of a silver Audi Q3 vehicle was driving on the N2 near Peddie when a truck travelling in the opposite direction allegedly lost control while driving down the Keiskamma River cutting and hit the Audi.

“The woman who was the front seat passenger died on impact while the driver and boy were rushed to a nearby hospital.

“The truck driver and his passenger were not injured.

“The truck, a horse and trailer, was carrying cement.

“Police are investigating a case of culpable homicide.”

Provincial transport department spokesperson Unathi Binqose said the accident occurred about 35km on the Qonce side of Peddie.

“The vehicles, a truck and an Audi, collided head-on.

“The injured were [initially] taken to Nompumelelo hospital in Peddie for further medical management.”