Crashes claim nine in W Cape

NINE people died on Western Cape roads at the weekend, a preliminary report by the provincial traffic services said yesterday. “This includes three passengers who lost their lives in a crash in the Worcester area in the early hours,” the statement said. Other fatalities included that of a driver on the N1 near Worcester and a pedestrian on the N7 in the Potsdam area on Friday. On Saturday, two drivers were killed in separate crashes in Goodwood and Caledon, while a pedestrian and a cyclist were killed in Bonnievale and Worcester on Sunday. Traffic officers arrested 15 motorists in George, Mossel Bay, Knysna, Worcester, Swellendam, Somerset West and Caledon for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol. They also arrested two people in Oudtshoorn – one for possession of dagga and the other for possession of mandrax. Western Cape Transport Department spokesperson Byron la Hoe said: “Breath testing was performed on 1 534 drivers at 26 alcohol blitz roadblocks across the province. The highest breath-alcohol reading was recorded in Caledon at 1.12mg of alcohol/1 000ml of breath, which is over four times the legal limit of 0.24mg/1 000ml.” Four people were arrested, one in Knysna for producing false documentation, one in George for giving officers false information, and two in Worcester for possession of stolen goods and false documents. A total of 675 speeding offences were recorded, La Hoe said. – ANA