The witness, who requested to stay anonymous, believes it was a miracle that he was not involved.

The man explained that he was coming down the pass when the truck carrying sulphuric acid overtook him on the descent before striking the BMW driven by the late Abubakr Akoo, a well-known businessman from Louis Trichardt.

The eyewitness immediately stopped at the scene and rushed to the aid of the BMW occupants, while simultaneously calling his wife to alert emergency services.

Also read: Sulphuric acid tanker strikes BMW, kills driver in Kranspoort horror crash

As he approached the BMW, he saw the vehicle was on fire and looked for a fire extinguisher to douse the flames.
The incident was so traumatising, that he couldn’t even remember what the make of the vehicle was.

When he stood by the vehicle he could tell the driver of the BMW was beyond help and further focused on the passenger, who he covered with a blanket and tried to keep calm.

He rummaged in the back of the vehicle and saw a Safari cooler bag and searched through it for water, he then realised that it contained two objects resembling bricks wrapped in newspaper.

“I was so overwhelmed and helpless at the scene, I never thought anything of the bricklike objects at the time. It was only later when I read that a Mr Abubakr Akoo from Louis Trichardt was on his way to visit his father in Newcastle, that the memory resurfaced.”

Also read: Religious academic killed in Kranspoort collision

The eyewitness can’t say for certain what the bricklike objects were, but wonders whether the personal possessions of the victim were ever handed over to the right people.

“I regret not taking the possessions and handing them over to the paramedics to ensure they were rightfully returned to his family.”

The eyewitness explains that as a man in his 60s, he never thought an accident could be so traumatising.

“I admire and commend the people, like paramedics, who have what it takes to help in situations like that. I am still reeling from shock and sincerely hope that whoever took the victim’s possessions did the honest thing and handed them over to the family.”

• The passenger has been identified as Pierre Vermaak, a Polokwane resident who was employed by Mr Akoo. It has been learnt that Mr Vermaak was admitted into the Milpark Hospital, where he is receiving treatment for internal injuries and head trauma. His condition remains critical but stable.