Two officers killed after driver ploughs through Witkoppen roadblock

The Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) has confirmed that two female officers were killed last night, 29 January, after a drunken driver ploughed through a roadside check at 9pm, Fourways Review reports.

The incident occurred on Witkoppen Road near Montecasino, where the driver of a Toyota Hilux drove into a group of officers, as well as a BMW, Hyundai and Porsche that had been pulled over.

READ MORE: WATCH: Churchgoers attack and disarm JMPD officers

Two passengers and the driver of the Hyundai were seriously injured. The drivers of the BMW and Porsche were slightly injured, along with two officers.

The driver of the Toyota Hilux was arrested, taken for a blood sample and detained at Sandton Police Station.

Chief of Police David Tembe said: “I don’t know what to say anymore when we have to lose our own while serving the community, and while we are trying to so hard to stop drunken driving and reduce fatalities. [However], we will continue to perform our duty and to serve our community.”

According to Werner Vermaak, ER24 spokesperson, there was nothing that paramedics could do for the two officers, and they were declared dead at the scene.

Three occupants from one of the stationary vehicles had to be rescued by the local fire department. The injured were later transported to a nearby hospital for further care.

The collision will be investigated by the Johannesburg Metro Police Department.

#ATT #AVOID #FatalWitkoppenRoadblock
Scene of the crash where 2 JMPD officers lost their lives, 2 people critically injured, 3 others seriously injured and one other minor injury. RIP to the officers. pic.twitter.com/m2Um41AwTq

— Cliff – That's All (@PigSpotter) January 29, 2018

So sad, I drove through that roadblock last night on my way home, they were so friendly and pleasant to deal with. They could have been given more lighting to help with visibility. People were flying down the hill towards them and slamming on the brakes at the last second.

— Andrew Shough (@MrThirsty) January 30, 2018

Tragic but JMPD continuously set up these road blocks in potentially dangerous locations. Surprised this hasn’t happened more often!

— @MrsB (@logicaldi) January 30, 2018

No…. so sad to read this as they were friendly and above board. I went through 4 times tonight. They were eventually laughing at me. RIP. Prayers with loved ones 😭

— Jenny (@JennyHib) January 29, 2018

Tomorrow morning when this person wakes up to the sobering reality; the habit that was created caught up with him/her in a horrible way, because it was most certainly not the first time. A habit solidifies into circumstance. Most people realise it too late.

— JoStephan (@jostephan) January 29, 2018

https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/joburg-metro-cops-attacked-by-churchgoers-while-enforcing-city-by-laws/

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