Man jumps in front of train
A MAN was cut in half after he apparently jumped from a bridge in front of an oncoming train on the N12 towards Johannesburg yesterday afternoon.
The train, which was transporting manganese, was forced to come to an abrubt stop following the incident which occurred just before 2pm.
The upper part of the deceased’s body was lying next to the train tracks, covered with a space blanket, while the bottom half could be seen under the train.
The front of train came to a stop approximately 400 metres from the point of impact, where the body was found. The deceased was wearing a black and white striped T-shirt at the time of the incident.
Police officers had to direct traffic away from the scene as motorists on the bridge stopped to get a view of what was happening on the train tracks below.
The deceased has not been identified yet.
Police spokesperson, Captain Olebogeng Tawana said they are investigating the incident.
“We can only confirm that a person was hit by a train in Kimberley. The circumstances surrounding the accident is not known and the investigation is ongoing,” said Tawana.
Officials from Transnet, who were on the scene, indicated that the communications officer was not present to give a statement on the matter and that all media inquiries should be referred to their national office.
This is the third reported suicide in the Province this month.
On Tuesday morning a 35-yearold paralysed man shot himself in the head at an old age home in Prieska. Police are still investigating the ownership of the firearm and how the deceased got hold of it.
In a another incident, a 33-yearold Warrenton police constable shot himself in the head with his service pistol shortly after shooting his girlfriend.
The incident occured on December 5 inside the home of the deceased. His 33-year-old girlfriend survived the incident.