A truck driver narrowly escaped an ill fate in an attempted hijacking on the N4 highway in the early hours of this morning.

Emergency services were requested at roughly 01:20 on the Traffic Alert WhatsApp group after the badly injured driver stopped for help at the Machadodorp Toll Plaza.

According to Chan Dhaver, the owner of AJ Bros Logistics to which the truck belongs, his driver was badly assaulted after stopping. He managed to escape, despite his severe injuries, and drove to the toll plaza, where he requested help.

Reports stated that the truck was a white Scania side-tipper.

Dhaver is based in Durban and is en route to assist the driver and file a case. “My driver is in a bad state, and I have very little information on what happened,” he told the Middelburg Observer.

It has not been confirmed where on the N4 the attempted hijacking took place, but initial reports stated that the driver stopped on the westbound side of the toll plaza.

The attempted hijacking follows five tyre spiking incidents reported along the N12 and N4 yesterday morning.

The spiking incidents occurred near Tasbet Park, eMalahleni, at 05:00.

Five vehicles were also involved in spiking incidents on the N12 last week.