MBOMBELA – A pedestrian crossing the R40 was hit and killed by a vehicle alleged driven by a person over the legal alcohol limit, on Friday afternoon. The woman died on impact. Various horrified commuters witnessed the accident. The vehicle hit her with such force that the bonnet of the vehicle was badly dented. The car’s windscreen was shattered and the victim’s handbag was found on its back seat.
The pedestrian was crossing the R40 in the vicinity of the Nelspruit Showground when the man, who was driving towards Mbombela’s CBD, hit her. A case is under investigation and traffic officials on the scene reported that the driver exceeded the speed limit.
The woman’s body was on the tar 65 metres from where she was hit. The driver of the vehicle was asked to do a breathalyser test on the scene. The legal limit is a breath alcohol level of 0,24 millligrams per 1 000 millilitres. The suspect’s breath alcohol level content was 0,36 milligrams. He was arrested and taken to Rob Ferreira Hospital where his blood was drawn for the measurement of his blood-alcohol level. Provincial police spokesman Sgt Gerald Sedibe confirmed that the driver would be charged with culpable homicide and driving under the influence of alcohol. He appeared briefly in court on Monday and was identified as Mr Tebogo Moloto (28). Moloto was remanded in custody and the case postponed to March 30.
The Facebook group, Nelspruiters, was flooded with comments by people enquiring about the incident. Prudence Dedeya Phakula commented: “It’s so sad. I also drove past the accident. I wasn’t a hit and run and the car that hit herstopped”. Dominique Groenewald added: “The driver of that green Honda Civic came thundering past us. I cannot get that image of that poor woman lying there out of my head! And to think she has people at home waiting for her. I will keeping her and her family in my thoughts and prayers”. Anitta NomaGugu Mnguni posted: “It was really a terrible sight. May she RIP”. “I was just wondering yesterday when someone will be run over. Every morning and afternoon people run over that busy road. Maybe they should make a plan and put fences up there as well? Was not a nice thing to see. So sad,” Louise Botes said.
