Helderberg
Year 18 • Tuesday 5 August 2014 | Tel. 021 853 0211
Read in this week’s
N2 accidents bring traffic to a grinding halt
DistrictMail
) Speeding driver caught with R500 000 abalone ) Strand hi-jacking ) Copper bust in Gants ) Club-rugby news and results
Lwandle enquiries
3 The scene of the first accident on the N2 on Friday.
PHOTOS: JAMEY GORDON AND DELIAH BRINKHUIS
JAMEY GORDON
Your say on Women’s Day
Touch rugby
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An ambulance that allegedly failed to stop at a red traffic light collided with a 1400 Nissan bakkie, which in turn crashed into a minibus taxi on the corner of Hlathi Drive and the N2, outside Lwandle, on Friday. According to Constable Mthokozisi Gama, spokesperson for the Lwandle Police, the incident occurred at about 07:10. The ambulance was leaving George Street Ext to get onto the N2 in the direction of Cape Town when it allegedly skipped the red traffic light and collided with the small
white bakkie. Gama says the bakkie was travelling from Grabouw in the direction of Cape Town and crossing a green light at the time. According to witnesses, the ambulance was travelling at a high speed without any sirens on when it crossed the red traffic light. It is believed that the driver of the bakkie lost control of the vehicle due to the impact of the collision, and hit a Toyota Quantum taxi travelling from Hlathi Drive. The driver of the bakkie was injured, as were five other passengers from the bakkie, one of whom sustained severe injuries and had to be airlifted to hospital. The ambulance driver and a
The ambulance at the accident scene.
passenger were also injured and had to be transported to hospital by ambulance. According to a statement released by ER24, 11 occupants of the minibus taxi sat on the roadside after the incident. A case of reckless and negligent driving is being investigated. Less than an hour later a second accident occurred on the N2 when the driver of a silver Volkswagen Polo sedan reportedly came speeding past the accident scene. According to Gama, the vehicle appeared to be heavily loaded as the rear was hanging close to the ground. Police at the first accident scene found the vehicle suspi-
cious and gave chase. According to eyewitnesses, the driver lost control of the vehicle in an attempt to get away and the car overturned and landed on its roof at the traffic lights opposite Somerset West Business Park. The driver (29) was arrested and abalone worth an estimated R502 650 was found in the boot of the VW Polo. The car and the abalone were confiscated. The driver appeared in the Strand Magistrate’s Court on Monday 4 August on charges of being in possession of abalone and reckless and negligent driving. Anyone with information may call Detective Captain Andries Geldenhuys on 082 469 7719.