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Tuesday 1 March 2011
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Victim’s family demands answers TASMIN CUPIDO
T
HE parents of a young Steenberg girl whose leg was broken after she was knocked over by a tow truck in December are outraged at the manner in which the case is being handled by the police. And to add to their unhappiness, they have also expressed concerns about the investigation at the scene and the attitude of the driver. Donovan and Christine Dyson, who live in the newly-developed Steenberg Social Renting Housing complex off Military Road, claim that had they not gone to Muizenberg police station to lay a charge of reckless and negligent driving, the officers at the station would not have been aware of the accident. The accident occurred in Diamond Drive, Sheraton Park on Friday 17 December. “We assumed that the officers on the scene would have filed an accident report, but when we got there, we were informed that there were not even police officers from the station in that area on that day,” Christine says. “So the question is: from which station were the two officers on the scene that day? They took down all our details and even the details of the driver.” She adds that the officers were not wearing any name tags. Heathfield Primary School pupil, Shané Dyson, was on her way to a tuck-shop in Diamond Drive when she crossed the road. “There was a big truck collecting dirt when I looked to the right before crossing; then I looked left,” the friendly girl says.
“When I looked right again, I saw no cars except the truck, which was far away. I crossed the road and then the tow truck came speeding from the right. I just froze and the next thing I knew I was lying on the ground.” When Donovan and Christine arrived on the scene, the driver of the tow truck had already called the police. The tow truck was parked a distance from the scene. “The first thing I noticed was that the car which had knocked my child had been moved. I was not sure who or which car ran her down,” Christine says. “Then the driver came to me and asked me for our address. He got into his vehicle and drove off. I just sat with my child, really concerned, because her leg was swelling up.” Shané was rushed to the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, where doctors inserted metal plates in her leg after the upper leg bone had “broken in half”. She was hospitalised until Friday 24 December. “The doctor encouraged us to make a case when we didn’t hear anything from the police. We also asked a police officer from our church to investigate whether a case was made,” Donovan says. “No trace of the accident was found at the station. So we went there to open a case. We also had to find out the details of the driver – the police did not even try.” Since opening the case, the family has only received three SMSes from the station confirming that a case was opened. “It also instructs us not to contact them,” Christine says. “We want answers – we want the law to take its course. My child could have died that day and the police would not have investigated it. Just thinking about it brings tears to my eyes.” The parents are concerned that their daughter
will never be able to walk properly again. “She is now using crutches and has to be carried up and down the stairs,” Donovan says. “She is so afraid of walking, because she was and still is in so much pain. Our entire festive season was spent worrying about her and she could not go anywhere with her friends. This while the driver enjoyed his Christmas with his family.” Muizenberg police spokesperson, Captain Stephen Knapp, confirms that a case of reckless and negligent driving was opened at the station and that the investigation is ongoing. However, he says the incident was only reported to the station 10 days after it happened “The matter was reported to Muizenberg police on Sunday 26 December 2010,” he says. “Steenberg police attended the scene and Muizenberg SAPS would thus have no knowledge of the incident.” Knapp claims that the family had not been contacted by the investigating officer because he is currently on a course. “A new investigating officer has been appointed and has attempted to contact the complainant on both numbers provided,” Knapp says. “She is no longer employed at the work telephone number given and the cell number provided belongs to another individual. He will continue to try to make contact with the complainant.” The docket will be referred to the senior public prosecutor at Simon’s Town Magistrate’s Court for a decision of whether prosecution will take place, after the investigation is completed. “We would like to encourage parents to not allow their children to play in the streets and to be vigilant in protecting their young,” Knapp says. “The SMS from the police referred to by the complainant is an
HELPING HAND: Donovan Dyson helps his daughter Shané (8) down the stairs to go to school. Her leg was broken when she was knocked over by a tow truck in December last year. Photos: Tasmin Cupido automated service which provides the details of the case number and the investigating officer of each case. It merely indicates that the recipient should not reply to the message and does not mean that the complainant cannot contact the station or the investigating officer for enquiries. We, in fact, encourage the complainant to contact the police in this regard.” According to Steenberg police station spokesperson, Warrant Of-
ficer Hermanus van Dyk, in accident cases such as this, “it is the responsibility of the family to go to the relevant police station to lay charges against the perpetrator” whether there were police officers on the scene or not. “The only time cases that are attended to by officers from other policing precincts is transferred without the family needing to lay charges, is when there are fatalities in the accident,” Van Dyk says.
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