A would-be hijacker was shot and wounded by police at the Watermeyer Street off-ramp on the N4 after a high-speed chase east of Pretoria.
Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Dave Miller said he was arrested and was being treated in hospital under police guard.
The culprit was driving a bronze BMW and was involved in the attempted hijacking of a British American Tobacco (BAT) truck.
“Seven or eight other hijackers in a white Volkswagen Golf are also believed to have been involved. Police officers rushed to the scene of the hijacking and on their way passed the BMW,” Miller said.
“A high-speed chase ensued with the Gauteng police flying squad chasing the vehicle through Mamelodi. The driver of the BMW drove recklessly and pushed motorists off the roads as he tried to flee. The man then sped away on the N4 highway towards Bronkhorstspruit before making a u-turn towards Pretoria.”
As he took the Watermeyer Street off-ramp, he collided with another car.
“The man jumped out of the vehicle and tried to run away. But police officers gave chase. After firing two warning shots, police shot the man in the leg.”
The alleged hijacker was arrested on the scene.
The police are still searching for his accomplices who fled the scene of the failed hijacking in a Volkswagen Golf.
Miller advised motorists to avoid the vicinity of the Watermeyer bridge as the road had been closed.
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