Driver survives crash in which two are killed
Last Sunday emergency personnel had to use Jaws of Life to free the lifeless body of a passenger who was killed in an accident on the R570. The incident occurred near the farmstead outside Schoemansdal.
TOMAHAWK – According to Malalane SAPS spokesman, Sgt Bheki Nkosi, the driver of a white BMW 320i had lost control of the vehicle and hit a tree, killing both passengers on impact. The driver was rushed to Shongwe Mission Hospital.
The first victim, the driver’s brother, had since been identified as Mr Nicholas Mhlabane, and the second was only known as Mr Mahlalela, a close friend.
Cans of alcohol were found on the scene and collected as evidence. Nkosi informed Corridor Gazette that the driver had also been charged with culpable homicide. “We are investigating a case of culpable homicide against the driver who survived, and blood samples have been taken to determine if he was driving under the influence of alcohol. At this stage that has not yet been confirmed. It will only be known once the alcohol limits in his blood have been checked.”
According to an eyewitness who was first to arrive at the scene, there was zero visibility at the time. “You couldn’t see anything at all.”
Another official explained that the tyres of the vehicle would be sent in to test whether speed was a contributing factor. “Given the extent of damage the vehicle has suffered, we are going to need to send the tyres in for examinations which will tell us if they were speeding excessively or not,” he explained.
The funeral arrangements had not yet been announced at the time of going to press and no additional information on the cause of the
accident was made available.
