MBOMBELA – Tragedy struck a local family when a man died after a motor accident occurred on the Kaapschehoop Road. This was shortly after the deceased’s three-year-old grandson requested that the family take him to Ocean Basket since he wanted fish and chips.
Mr Trevor Aiyavoo (49), his wife Bonita (48), their daughter Teresine (23) and Lemach Masher (3), were on their way home when the incident occurred at about 16:15 – just before the turn-off to Cussons Street. Aiyavoo apparently swerved his BMW 370 in an attempt to avoid a collision with a silver Volkswagen, the driver of which was making a U-turn.
The BMW collided with a tree at the side of the road. The Volkswagen driver didn’t stop and simply drove off.
The family went to Montana Garden Pavilion after having lunch and were travelling to Mbombela. Mr Jannie Kleynhans who had witnessed the incident, drove a few metres behind Aiyavoo. “There was a lot of dust when the BMW hit the tree and came to a standstill. The driver of the silver Volkswagen merely threw his hands in the air and drove away. I jumped out of my vehicle and assisted as far as I could. The baby (Lemach) was trapped between the grandparents,” said Kleynhans.
Mr Mornay Tree, a resident nearby, heard a loud bang from his living room and quickly rushed to the scene. Paramedics of Hi-Tech Medical Services, ER24 and Netcare 911 quickly responded. Mbombela firemen also reacted swiftly. Mr Greg Fouché of Mbombela Fire & Rescue, said that none of the BMW’s occupants had been wearing seatbelts.
The Aiyavoo couple and Lemach were taken to Mediclinic Nelspruit, but Teresine was trapped in the wreckage. Firemen had to remove the vehicle’s roof using the Jaws of Life.
Aiyavoo died of his injuries later that afternoon. His widow and Lemach were being treated in the intensive-care unit at the time of going to press. Teresine was being treated in a normal ward.
