On-duty police officer killed in N4 accident

An on-duty police officer was allegedly hit and killed by a car on the N4 in Mbombela, Mpumalanga.

It is alleged the officer, whose identity is unknown at this stage, tried to stop a Mercedes panel van heading west on the Montrose Pass, Lowvelder reported.

The driver of the vehicle allegedly failed to stop, running the officer over.

The exact cause of the incident is, however, not yet known.

TRAC spokesperson Solange Soares-Nicholson said they received a call for assistance at 4.41pm, but the exact time of the incident had not yet been determined.

According to Willem Swart, of Van Wettens Towing Services, who is also a trained paramedic, he and Netcare 911 tried to resuscitate the victim for more than 30 minutes, but his injuries were too severe. The officer died on the scene.

A City of Ekurhuleni firefighter and emergency care practitioner died in a fatal motor vehicle accident on Saturday on Tonk Meter Road between Duduza and Kwa-Thema.

Metro police spokesperson Themba Gadebe said: “Sheila Masemola and a colleague, who is in a critical but stable condition in hospital, were travelling in an ambulance when the emergency vehicle was involved in an accident with a Toyota Hilux.”

The drive of the Toyota Hilux escaped with minor bruises. He was, however, arrested for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol.

– Caxton News Service

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