Pupils hit by ‘ stunt’ car

“OUR children were knocked over like bowling pins,” said the parents of the four children ploughed into by a motorist outside their school in Wentworth on Wednesday.

The motorist was captured on cellphone recordings attempting to carry out stunts in his car on Retreat Street outside Fairvale Secondary at 2pm. The children had unintentionally become spectators while walking home.

The footage shows the car veering into the oncoming lane and then on to the pavement where schoolchildren were standing. The motorist crashes his car into them, swerves and then drives off. The footage shows some of the injured pupils writhing in pain on the ground.

The motorist was pursued by an off- duty policeman and concerned residents. Teachers from Fairvale Secondary rushed to the scene to assist the injured pupils.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Jay Naicker said two suspects aged 21 and 23 were arrested . He said the vehicle had been stolen in emanzimtoti in November last year.

The injured – Franklyn Hlophe, 16; Daeton Jackson, 15; and Tyler Dryiaman, 15 – were treated and discharged from hospital.

Phillip Khumalo said his son Franklyn was still in shock and in pain. Lealan Chen, 15, took the most impact and is still in hospital with injuries to both legs, swollen eyes and a gash on his forehead. His mother, Chantel Snyman, said most of the parents were at work. She rushed to the hospital after being told of the incident.

The parents were shocked when they viewed the crash footage circulating on social media. Snyman thanked those who recorded the incident.

“It gave us some closure on what had happened. We want justice to be served to prevent situations like this in the future,” she said.

The injured all attend the same school and the three discharged pupils will be writing a test paper today while the two men will appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court.

They face charges of possession of a stolen vehicle, reckless and negligent driving, attempted murder, failing to produce a driving licence and failing to report injuries after an accident.

Wentworth SAPS are investigating.

Ward Councillor Aubrey Snyman said the incident was very sad and “definitely uncalled for, these guys need to be taught a lesson”.