WHITE RIVER – Ms Tiena de Beer (53), a well-known face at Casterbridge Lifestyle Centre, died after a vehicle she had reportedly borrowed from a friend ran her over at her house.
There were no witnesses to the tragedy, but according to provincial police spokesman Sgt Gerald Sedibe, it is believed that she was taking something out of the boot of the car when it rolled backwards and ran over her.
It is suspected that she had parked on a slope and the brakes of the vehicle were not properly applied.
Sedibe said she was trapped under the car and neighbours rushed to her aid. Emergency services personnel had removed her body from underneath the vehicle by the time the police arrived.
She was declared dead on the scene.
Police are investigating a case of culpable homicide and a post-mortem will be conducted.
De Beer grew up in the Lowveld, but spent some time in Pretoria and Mozambique. She had decades of experience in the design and manufacture of high-end clothing and was the owner of a local boutique several years ago.
In an article about the boutique in Getit Lowveld in 2011 she was described as “a master conversationalist, and can lure the most reserved soul into casual chat and laughter”.
She recently worked part-time at several shops in the Casterbridge Lifestyle Centre.
De Beer’s Facebook page was flooded with tributes and messages from friends and many posted photos of themselves and her.
Her friends described her as an energetic, kind and generous person who always saw the brighter side of things.
Michelle Sierra wrote, “RIP my dear friend. God obviously needed your generous soul in heaven, may you be blessed…”
TeisaJean Nicole posted, “Tiena always looked for the gold in people’s hearts… what a precious gift she is… see you in heaven dear friend… we will miss your smile, sweetness, and lavish love on earth.”
Jason Marquez, a friend from the US posted a picture of their meeting. “We met Tiena in South Africa a year ago exactly, she was such a beautiful person and it was a blessing to meet her, we always thought we would see her again, I guess it’ll be in heaven.”
Due to the most-mortem process, funeral arrangements or memorial service details will only be available later.
