UPDATE: Sister to be told of sibling’s passing today

Unaware that she was dead, a grandmother and the sister also involved in last week’s road accident have been asking about the victim.

The grandmother and the sibling of the deceased in the accident on Wednesday, 14 August, were recovering well in hospital and were due to find out about the fatality later today.

Hazel Nienaber (55) and her two grandchildren Abbigail (16) and Rochelle (14) le Roux were travelling on the R573 road when a collision left their vehicle trapped under a Putco bus on Wednesday, around 14:40.

Rochelle who was sitting in the back seat was declared dead on the scene while her sister was airlifted to Johannesburg general hospital in a critical condition.

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The sisters’ grandmother was taken to the Steve Biko academic hospital by ambulance in a serious condition.

“A pastor, a doctor and the grandfather will be at the hospital today when they tell the grandmother and sister about Rochelle’s passing,” Kameeldrift trauma centre counsellor and treasurer Carli Venter told Rekord.

Abbigail is out of the induced coma and has been moved from the intensive care unit to the Len Med hospital where she was currently recovering.

“Abbigail was still in an induced coma on Friday but awake, eating and talking when her grandfather visited her on Saturday. It is such a miracle,” Venter said.

“Funeral arrangements for Rochelle have been made and the final date for her memorial service will be announced as soon as the news of her passing has been given to her grandmother and sister.”

In the meantime, the Kameeldrift and Roodeplaat community have joined hands with the Kameeldrift trauma centre to raise funds for the family.

ALSO READ: UPDATE: Gauteng ‘left out’ of Moloto road upgrades

Nienaber, her husband and their two grandchildren lived in the informal settlement on the smallholdings in the area.

Venter said the funds would go towards supporting the family cover the cost of petrol, groceries and other costs after the accident and purchasing a new car.

“Thank you to each and every open hand, wallet and heart to assist this family.”

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