Motorists slam police drivers’ alleged reckless conduct
THE driving conduct of police officers has come under fire by motorists after two Friday afternoon accidents were reportedly caused by cops.
An eyewitness of the fatal accident on the N2 near KwaMbonambi claimed the accident was caused by a police officer driving a state vehicle, who carried out a U-turn.
David Bird was travelling southbound behind the woman who, along with her two children, was involved in the accident.
‘A vehicle overtook the state vehicle which was driving towards Mtubatuba,’ he said.
‘Shortly afterwards, the driver of the state vehicle executed a sudden U-turn, leaving the woman no time to take evasive action.
‘When I stopped, I saw that the police officer driving the state vehicle was still alive.’
Bird said when police officers arrived at the scene, they did not attempt to remove the man from his burning vehicle.
He stopped some trucks driving past, but none were carrying working fire extinguishers.
‘A petrol tanker was among the trucks I flagged down, but even its fire extinguisher was not working.’
The man succumbed to his injuries in the burning vehicle.
Bird is battling to come to terms with the experience, and said that the tragedy could have been avoided had the illegal U-turn not been carried out and had the passing trucks been fitted with mandatory fire extinguishers.
Another motorist who stopped at the scene was told by officers that the police officer had been towing a trailer carrying a generator, which he was to deliver to Manguzi in preparation for the following day’s visit by the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele.
KwaMbonambi SAPS is investigating a culpable homicide case, but further details are still forthcoming.
Later on Friday afternoon, between 3 and 4pm, an accident involving three vehicles occurred at the John Ross-Arboretum intersection.
To passing motorists it appeared as if a pedestrian had been knocked over and killed as a man was lying face down underneath the bakkie which was the last of the three vehicles involved.
It has since emerged that the man, reported to be an off-duty police officer dressed in civilian clothing, was the driver of the state bakkie involved, and that, according to witnesses on scene, he had passed out drunk underneath the vehicle.
Motorists who drove past the accident shortly after it happened reported the man to have been slumped half out of the vehicle.
Witnesses also said there were open alcohol bottles and cups inside the vehicle.
Confirming the reckless and negligent case opened, Richards Bay SAPS Communications Officer, Captain Debbie Ferreira, said the SAPS member and one other driver had been taken to hospital for minor injuries, and that the police officer was not from the Richards Bay station.
No arrests were made.