Barberton athlete victim of hit & run

Well-known athlete and devoted cyclist, Linda de Bruyn, was seriously injured in a hit-and-run accident on Saturday afternoon.

At approximately 14:20, Linda, who is a teacher at Barberton Primary, was cycling with her husband Egbert, down General Road and was already past the soccer field and turn-off next to Emjindini’s Extension 9, when the incident occurred.

According to Egbert, Linda was riding approximately three metres behind him right on the edge of the road. “The road has no yellow lines, and it is our custom to keep as far left as possible,” he told Barberton Times.

Egbert said that no cars, either from the front or back, were to be seen when he suddenly heard a noise behind him, a fraction of a second before a vehicle passed and missed him by a hair’s breadth.

“I looked behind me and saw my wife rolling on the ground and her bicycle whirling next to her. I looked up and saw a dark-coloured bakkie, without canopy, with a sticker on the tailgate. On it was written in huge letters, POLICE.”

Egbert said he shouted at the driver and signalled to him to stop, but apart from the brake lights, which came on briefly, the driver sped off. “He didn’t even attempt to stop after hitting a cyclist and causing her to fall.”

Egbert immediately turned around to his wife. He said Linda was totally confused and in excruciating agony, with blood running down her right arm.

“Her right leg had several black tyre-like marks and she felt a burning sensation, her cycling shirt and helmet also had tyre marks on them and she could hardly lift her right arm,” he said.

“I felt something hitting me on the shoulder, probably the left-hand mirror. I immediately lost control of my bicycle and fell against the passing vehicle, hitting the back tyre,” said Linda.

In all probability, this explains the marks on her leg, body and helmet.

Residents of the Emjindini area came to assist and Pat Shongwe of Umjindi Municipality took Linda, with her bicycle, to Barberton Mediclinic while Egbert cycled home to fetch his own vehicle before meeting them at the hospital.

After Dr Hatting, who was on standby at casualty, examined Linda, he cleansed the wounds and stitched her elbow and fingers. X-rays were taken of her arm, shoulder and ribs and she was transferred to Mediclinic Nelspruit.

“I wish to thank Shongwe as well as the residents of Emjindini who helped us on Saturday,” said Egbert.

Arriving at Barberton Police station, he reported the accident to Capt De Lange, who he said was very sympathetic. “He suggested that I take my wife to Nelspruit and come back to the station to report the case afterwards, which I did.”

After admitting his wife he reported the case to WO Piet Jooste in Barberton. “He was very helpful and I could sense that he really would go out of his way to assist us in finding the culprit. Everybody in the police from all over are prepared to assist in the search for him. I have to stress that I respect the police and believe they will find him.”

Linda is still in Nelspruit Mediclinic and is in a lot of pain. On Monday, the possibility of surgery to her right shoulder was under discussion.

Egbert said, “Linda has always been a very positive person, a good sportswoman, doing cycling and running, but this accident will definitely affect her sporting career. There is also bad damage to her bicycle, for which I hold hat driver accountable. I also hold this coward, driving that police vehicle, responsible for the accident as well as all the pain my wife is going through. The fact that he drove off without stopping is disgraceful. I hope he will be caught and that justice will preval.”