TONGA – Three children were seriously injured and hospitalised at Tonga Hospital after being hit by a vehicle, which swerved off the road and onto the sidewalk on May 24 in Mangweni.
According to Lt Mzwandile Nyambi, the spokesman for the police station, the driver of a Chevrolet lost control of her vehicle while overtaking another car.
“The children were walking on the sidewalk when the accident occurred. It is alleged that the driver of the Chevrolet was overtaking a BMW when she lost control of her vehicle. The vehicle veered off the road and hit a Toyota Quantum which was offloading passengers. It then continued to hit the three children. The vehicle came to a standstill when it drove into a yard of one of the residents of Mangweni,” said Nyambi.
It is alleged that both drivers appeared to have been speeding. Their blood samples were taken for alcohol-level testing.
“We have taken blood samples from both drivers to determine whether there was alcohol involved. A case of negligence and reckless driving has been opened and we are investigating.” The driver of the Chevrolet was also hosptialised for a broken arm, and at the time of going to press only one of the three children was in ICU while the other two were still recovering in hospital.
In a separate accident which happened on the same day in Driekoppies, four people died when the Renault Sandero they were travelling in crashed near Driekoppies Combined School.
On Monday May 26, the Nkomazi Local Municipality said it was saddened and shocked by the number of accidents which had occurred.
“It is never easy receiving news about road accidents, and when they happen in such a manner it is honestly heartbreaking. As the municipality we are shocked and saddened by the fatalities and injuries which occurred this past weekend. Our deepest and heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families,” said the spokesman for the Nkomazi municipality, Mr Cyril Ripinga.
Ripinga furthermore pleaded with motorist and pedestrians to be vigilant at all times.
He said, “We know that it gets really busy when it is the end of the month. As we witnessed this past Friday, as pay day came a bit sooner for others. It is therefore of the utmost importance that motorists and pedestrians be extra vigilant on the roads.”
