Resident left dejected after hit-and-run incident in Birch Acres

Kempton Park resident Charl Sutherland-Clark was involved in a hit-and-run incident on Pongola River Drive, Birch Acres on March 21 at approximately 05:14.

Sutherland-Clark said his blue Haval was side-swiped by an orange/bronze Toyota Hilux double cab GD6 bakkie before the occupants of the Toyota Hilux fled the scene.

According to Sutherland-Clark, the bakkie was stationary in the middle of Pongola River Drive as he left his residence.
The vehicle was facing west, with its headlights on and its left indicator engaged.

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On initial inspection, he could not see any occupants inside.

“I did not stop or exit my vehicle because it was still dark. I contacted my security company and informed them about the stationary vehicle, as it made me feel uneasy,” said Sutherland-Clark.

Response officers arrived before the incident, monitoring the situation to assess the occupants’ intentions.

However, things worsened when the Toyota moved slowly towards the stop street in a westerly direction.

“At first I thought the vehicle was pushed, but it confused me because if that were the case, why was it being pushed into the middle of the road rather than to the side?” he added.

Sutherland-Clark realised the Toyota was not being pushed, but approached him from the side of the road.

In response, he swerved as far as possible and hooted to get the occupants’ attention, but to no avail.

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The Toyota Hilux collided with his Haval Jolion.

“The collision damaged my vehicle from the middle of the driver’s side to the rear,” he said.

The Toyota Hilux, despite the collision’s effect, continued west on Pongola River Drive.

Sutherland-Clark exited his vehicle and approached EMPD officers, who had arrived at the scene and the response officers.

He enquired whether they witnessed the incident, and if they knew the Toyota Hilux was fleeing.

“The EMPD officers did not respond and left the scene. The reaction officers acknowledged what had happened, but the EMPD officers did not initially seem eager to pursue the Toyota Hilux,” he added.

Frustrated by the lack of action, Sutherland-Clark said he returned to his vehicle, made a U-turn, and pursued the Toyota Hilux along Pongola River Drive.

After crossing Namakwaduif Avenue, the Toyota Hilux stopped in a driveway on the left of the road, narrowly avoiding a collision with a boundary fence.

Two men exited the vehicle and began urinating on the side of it.

“I pulled over on the side of the road, as far left as possible, with my hazard lights on. I then started recording a video on my phone to capture the Toyota Hilux make, model, colour, and registration number,” he said.

After recording the vehicle, he also documented the damage caused by the collision.

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“By the time the reaction officers arrived, the Toyota Hilux occupants re-entered their vehicle and sped off in a westerly direction.”
Sutherland-Clark pleaded with the officers to assist in stopping the vehicle.

“The reaction officers assured me they would pursue the Toyota Hilux and apprehend the occupants. I then returned home to inform my fiancé about what happened and waited for an update from my security company,” he said.

Approximately 10 minutes later, the security company contacted him, stating they had lost sight of the Toyota Hilux as it had sped away.

Sutherland-Clark and his fiancé then went to the Norkem Park Police Station to report the hit-and-run incident, providing the details of the vehicle involved.

He has since also informed his insurance company and received additional information regarding the occupants.

Details in possession of the Kempton Express cannot be disclosed at this stage as investigations are ongoing.

Emotionally, the incident has taken a toll on Sutherland-Clark, “Particularly given that EMPD and security officers were present, yet the Toyota Hilux occupants still fled the scene. Pongola River Drive is dangerous in how traffic moves along the road,” he added.

Sutherland-Clark emphasised sharing his story is a gesture of goodwill and transparency, with no intention of seeking revenge or passing judgment.

“My standpoint is vengeance belongs to the Lord, and He alone will deliver judgment as He sees fit. I pray that God may bless the people in the other vehicle,” he said.