Driver takes on wall then tree and loses

Residents living in Aquamarine Road in Sunny Ridge were given a shock awakening, as the driver of a car first hit their driveway wall and then a tree in front of their property.

At approximately 2am on Sunday morning, a driver of a Toyota Corolla lost control of his vehicle while driving on Aquamarine Road. After mounting the pavement, the vehicle apparently crashed into the wall, destroying it to pieces of rubble, whereafter it struck a tree.

“I thought someone was breaking into the house through the roof,” said a startled resident. “Everyone was woken by the loud crash, and we proceeded outside to investigate.”

Witnesses say the man made a cursory survey of the damage to the wall and to his vehicle. He then made a telephone call from his cell phone, opened the boot of the car, removed some alcohol and then staggered off up the road.

The occupants of the house, only known as Mr and Mrs Oosthuizen, had simply been watching the home for their father, contacted the police. They were told that because there were no injuries, they would not be coming out, and the driver had 24 hours to report the accident.

“That’s when I told them they had better come, or there would be a serious injury if I got hold of the driver,” said Mrs Oosthuizen. “The crash woke our seven- month-old-baby. I was quite upset.”

A police van arrived shortly thereafter, and one constable confirmed if the man did not report the accident within 24 hours, a case of failing to report an accident would be opened, and further steps would be taken.

A family member of the driver said she had been called by him, informing her what had happened. “His car only came out of the workshop a short while ago,” she said.

A tow truck removed the vehicle from the scene. Mr Oosthuizen documented the entire scene with his camera, and assured other witnesses he would be following up with the insurance company.