Couple flung from bike after collision
A man walking past was hit by flying debris as a Honda super-bike spun high into the air on impact with the car.
As a police officer driving his private vehicle attempted to turn into Meena Place from Centenary Road on Saturday afternoon, the world exploded into flying bodies and motorbike parts.
A man walking past was hit by flying debris as a Honda super-bike spun high into the air on impact with the car.
At this stage, it is unclear what caused the accident, although speculation on social media sites is rife with allegations. When emergency services arrived at the scene, the police officer (driver of the vehicle) had already left.
There were only three injured people at the scene: the driver of the motorcycle, his passenger and the injured pedestrian.
A full report by police spokesperson Captain Charmaine Struwig is printed below:
Police are investigating a case of culpable homicide following a collision between a motorcycle and a car on December 7. It is alleged that at about 2pm, a VW Jetta and motorcycle collided at the intersection of Centenary Road and Meena Place, after which they crashed into a pedestrian. The occupant of the Jetta (an off-duty policeman), two people on the motorcycle and the pedestrian were taken to hospital.
No one fled the scene on foot. The pedestrian died of his injuries, the two people on the motorcycle were seriously injured, and the driver of the Jetta was treated and released the following day. He sustained slight injuries. The deceased has not yet been identified.
Responsible adults do not become involved in gossip and speculation. If you were a witness to the events, then by all means contact us so we may take your statement as part of the evidence in this case. Major SE Sithole can be contacted on 036-638-3331 or 073-136-0073. But if you were not a witness to the incident and are spreading information you heard via the grapevine or received from a third party, then you are busy with malicious rumour-mongering. Do not rely on the anonymity you think social media provides to you… you are still criminally liable for everything you say, write or forward on social media sites and in cell-phone messages.
Spreading malicious gossip can land you in civil as well as criminal court, since it can amount to defamation of character and crimen iniuria.
The Protection from Harassment Act can also provides relief to those who are being harassed via these kinds of social mediums and cell-phone messages. The Act allows the harassed person to obtain a protection order against the harasser. This Act also compels the service provider to release the harasser’s details so they can be traced and held liable for their actions.
Don’t infringe on the rights of others. You certainly would not like it if you were the one on the receiving end! Allow the police to conduct the investigation based on factual evidence and do not sully the investigation with cowardly anonymous comments which cannot be substantiated.
Police UPDATE
Following the appearance of the article on the Looklocal/Ladysmith Gazette site we have been approached by eye witnesses. We applaud the witnesses for having the courage to come forward. We will be taking their statements, where after the docket will be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions for a decision and guidance on who should be charged and for what.
Captain Charmaine Struwig
