High-speed chase kills father of three

A 35-year-old father of three died when a high-speed chase with police ended in him losing control of his vehicle and crashing.

Ridwaan Ahmod (35) was travelling in a Ford Bantam bakkie with his wife and two children in front and a family member, Ammesh Sidhoo, on the back. The bakkie was heading up Centenary Road from the Smartiesville area. Driving up Centenary, Ridwaan noticed blue lights ahead. He did not stop as, according to family, he feared it was an attempted hijacking.

Police gave chase, following the vehicle down Azalea Drive into Calendula Avenue. The high-speed chase weaved through side streets and back roads as Ridwaan tried to make good his escape from what family say he thought were hijackers.

He tried to calm his wife, Lamisah, as he raced to what he hoped would be the safety of nearby homes of  family and friends

She clung onto her two children aged two and four years old.

Police continued to give chase and at the three-way intersection between Foxglove Avenue from Protea Drive, he lost control and the bakkie flipped onto its side. The family member on the back was flung off and landed in nearby bush.

Lamisah and her two children were heard screaming for help. The bakkie was on its side, with everyone piled on top of the driver. According to family, Lamisah  and the two children were dragged out of the vehicle by police. Ridwaan was badly injured and left inside. Police then managed to roll the vehicle back upright onto its wheels.

Ridwaan died in his wife’s arms. “He would not harm a fly,” commented family members in an exclusive interview with the Ladysmith Gazette. “The police must be held accountable for their actions that led to my husband’s death,” said a distraught Lamisah.

Sharaj Ambulance Services responded and treated the wife and children for shock and moderate injuries. Ridwaan died at the scene due to severe injuries sustained. Lamisah, her children and Ammesh were transported to hospital by Sharaj Ambulance Services. Police remained at the scene, including the officers who initially chased the bakkie.

Police are investigating.

Police spokesperson Captain Charmaine Struwig responded with the following statement:

“At about 2am on Sunday morning, Ladysmith Visible Policing members were busy conducting crime prevention activities in Centenary Road. During the crime prevention operation, they attempted to flag down a Ford bakkie with dark tinted windows. However, the driver of the vehicle avoided stopping at the vehicle check-point and sped away.

The driver raced in and out of several streets in the area, after which the chase ended when the driver lost control of his vehicle in Protea Drive.

The vehicle veered off the road and fell on its side. Police arrived at the scene minutes later to find the driver deceased and then discovered that the driver’s wife and two children, aged two and four, had also been in the vehicle, as well as an adult male. The wife and children, and adult male, all sustained slight injuries.

During the same operation, police arrested 40 people for driving while under the influence of liquor.”

Wife,  Lamisah Nel, posted a comment below. At her and the families’ request, the comment has been deleted.