Truck sparks further tensions
A truck driver smashed into electricity cables on a residential road, ripping them from the ground, and allegedly fled the scene.
LOUD bangs and bright sparks interrupted the peace and quiet of Willow Crescent, in Pinetown on Monday 2 December at approximately 10pm when a 16-wheeler truck smashed into the electricity pole support cable and ripped down the power cables, leaving residents without power until 7.30pm on Tuesday.
Brandon Veress, a resident of Willow Crescent, heard the noise and witnessed the truck driving away from the scene into Bamboo Lane.
“I heard these massive bangs and saw these bright sparks. It was going off like fireworks. I went outside to investigate and saw the truck drive past, and realised that the driver had taken out the power lines. Trucks have always taken the corner very tightly, and I knew that it was going to happen at some point,” said Veress.
Veress reported that he chased after the truck. He knew that he would catch up to the truck because of the several speed bumps in Bamboo Lane.
“In Bevis Road I managed to cut him off. He pulled over and I confronted him about the incident. He did not deny it, but just kept quiet. I told him that I would escort him to the Pinetown SAPS, so that we could report the incident,” said Veress.
According to Veress, the truck driver tried to “ditch” Veress after he had agreed to accompany him to the SAPS, but another resident, Gordon Gillespie, also heard the noise and followed to investigate. He caught up with them and the two residents boxed in the truck driver on Old Main Road and escorted him to the Pinetown SAPS.
The distraught resident also reported that when they arrived at the Pinetown station the truck driver denied trying to run away from the scene and claimed that he had left the accident scene to report it to the SAPS.
“The most frustrating part is that he ran away. He did not try and take responsibility for the incident. What if he had lost control and crashed into someone’s wall?
According to Pottie Potgieter, the manager of Umhlatuze Imports and Exports, the company that owns the truck responsible for the incident, the truck driver reported the incident to management. Potgieter stated that the company is investigating the matter and could not comment until the investigation had been completed.
Const Lungile Mbatha, of Pinetown SAPS, could not confirm that a case had been opened.
