The Alberton family of Benton Shawn Harris is pleading for answers following an accident that claimed his life on the night of April 5 near the intersection at the Mall at Newmarket.

According to his sister, Lisa Harris, Benton was struck and killed along with another unidentified pedestrian sometime between 21:00 and 22:00.

The family is reeling in the aftermath, receiving little to no information from authorities as they await clarity on what happened that night.

“We don’t want to make any accusations yet, but we haven’t heard anything from the detectives,” Lisa said. “Every time my mom phones, the call drops, or no one picks up. All we know is that a bakkie hit my brother and another person. After that, it reportedly crashed into the Nando’s restaurant.”

The family is appealing to the public for help, asking that anyone who witnessed the incident or who has camera footage – particularly dash camera footage from vehicles driving past the area at that time – reach out.

“At this stage, we don’t even know who the other pedestrian was or whether their family was notified,” Lisa added.

“My mom only received the call around 00:30. When she and my stepdad got to the scene around 01:00, my brother and the other pedestrian were already covered in silver plastic.”

Benton, born on October 4, 1982, was described as a quiet, deeply loved soul with a creative spirit and a passion for fitness. He was unmarried and had no children, but leaves behind a large family who cared dearly for him.

“Benton was very talented with his hands – woodwork, welding, fixing things – you name it,” said Bonita Harris, Benton’s sister.

“He loved drawing and was a bit of an introvert, but once he got talking, he’d keep you hooked with one of his many conspiracy theories,” Bonita shared.

“Gym was his life. He knew everything about building muscle and nutrition. Also, animals adored him. It was like they were always drawn to him, even when he was a little boy.”

Lisa added, “He was truly loved. This has impacted our family more than words can say. My mom is broken. We want answers. We want the truth.”

Benton’s funeral was on April 13.

As the family waits for progress in the investigation, they ask anyone with information or footage from that night to come forward, no matter how small it may seem.

“Someone out there knows something. Please help us bring some closure,” Lisa said.

Call Lisa on 079 297 0850 or Sergeant Ronto, the investigating officer, on 082 334 6455 (Case number: 61/04/2025).

ALSO READ: Two accidents on Swartkoppies Road in one day raise safety concerns