On May 2, officers from the EMPD’s First Responder Unit (FRU) responded to a crash involving a pedestrian on the Andrew Mapheto Drive in front of St Gamma’s Primary School.

It is believed that the 33-year-old female driver of the vehicle was travelling on Andrew Mapheto Drive with four passengers when she failed to treat a non-functional traffic light as a stop sign and knocked over a male pedestrian crossing the roadway.

The pedestrian landed next to the palisade fence of the primary school.

“On arrival at the scene officers found several patients including the pedestrian lying down on the side of the roadway.

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“Some of those injured were still inside the sedan,” said EMPD spokesperson, Marie Mashishi.

She added that medical experts were called to the scene and the patients were transported to different medical facilities for medical care.

“Four of the occupants of the vehicle including the driver sustained slight injuries and a male passenger who was seated in the front of the sedan as well as the pedestrian sustained serious injuries as a result of the crash,” said Mashishi.

She added that on closer inspection, officers smelled a strong odour of liquor from the female driver.

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“A breathalyzer test was immediately conducted. The reading from the device came out very high and the intoxicated motorist was handcuffed.

“A registered medical practitioner was called to the site and a blood specimen was drawn from the arm of the lawbreaker before she was taken to the Thembisa South Police Station,” said Mashishi.

She confirmed that the female driver will face charges of driving while under the influence of alcohol or an intoxicating substance, and is expected to appear at the Thembisa Magistrate Court soon.

“Her damaged vehicle was impounded at the Thembisa South Police Station.”