Snake hampers rescue of cab driver who drove into a ditch
The driver reportedly didn't know if he had a passenger with him. None was found, but he is "fine".
MBOMBELA – The driver of a car that landed up in a storm water drain at around 19:30 this evening, reportedly escaped with minor injuries.
Andrea Shabalala (25), a cab driver from Ngodini, was travelling from town to collect a client at Riverside Mall when he lost control of his black Citi Golf at the intersection between Lydenburg Road and the R40.
His car ended up at the bottom of the storm water drain next to the R40, approximately 10 metres deep.
Rogers Nkosi, a Hi-Tech security guard patrolling nearby told Lowvelder on the scene that he suspected a burst tyre might have caused the accident.
“I heard a loud bang, and the next thing I saw the car roll a few times until it fell into the ditch,” he said.
Emergency officials were called to the scene.
Their rescue attempts were temporarily disrupted by the discovery of a large snake near the car. It was chased away.
Some of Shabalala’s family members and friends arrived on the scene to collect his remaining items in the vehicle before it was towed away by Van Wettens Breakdown Services.
A man who identified himself as Shabalala’s cousin, said he was okay.
“He is still in a lot of pain but we have been told that he will be fine as he is not seriously injured,” he said.
Shabalala was taken to the Rob Ferreira Hospital.
