Driver critical after highway crash
A MOTORIST has been seriously injured after a crash on the N1 outgoing at the Sable Road off-ramp just after midnight yesterday.
ER24 apokesperson Russel Meiring said: “A 26-year-old man was left critically injured this morning when his light motor vehicle crashed into the centre median on the N1 in Century City in the Western Cape. ER24 paramedics, with Life Healthcare, arrived shortly after 1am to find the fire services tending to the patient.”
It is understood that the vehicle crashed into the centre median, crossed the freeway and had come to a rest in the emergency lane.
Paramedics found the man with serious injuries to his legs and head. He was treated for his injuries and provided with several advanced life-support interventions.
“Once treated, the man was transported to Life Vincent Palotti Hospital for urgent care.
“The details surrounding this incident are not yet known, but local authorities were on the scene for further investigation,” Meiring said.
The City of Cape Town has confirmed that the incident was related to illegal street racing.
Mayco member for safety and security JP Smith said: “The incident is just the latest example of the devastation wrought by illegal street racers on our streets.
“What is equally concerning is the group of people gathered on the overpass who were filming the incident. It is representative of an ongoing problem that our traffic officers have to contend with week in and week out, particularly the ghost squad.”
The City said it had engaged with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) about this matter. The NPA said it was not legally able to open cases or issue notices based on statements from members of the public and that only SAPS may investigate such cases when a member of the public submits a complaint.
In a separate incident on Sunday, members of the ghost squad pursued a vehicle on the N2 outgoing speeding at nearly 200km an hour.
The driver refused to stop and then swopped seats with his passenger in mid-pursuit. Only then did the vehicle pull over.
The original driver was arrested on charges of reckless and negligent driving and drunken driving. He and the passenger were charged with defeating the ends of justice.
Cape Town Traffic Services Department has arrested 123 suspects in the past week and issued 1 793 fines.