Local woman speaks of spiking ordeal
“I was scared for my life,” said a 23-year-old Pretoria woman who escaped spike robbers on Saturday evening (5 June) while driving on the N4
Trisha Poll* (not her real name) was driving from Hazyview, Mpumalanga, to Pretoria, when she encountered spikes on the road.
“I never drive home at night, but on the day I had some delays,” she said.
“Just after Witbank towards Bronkhorstspruit, there was black and yellow signage closing off the lane I was driving in and diverting me into the next lane.
“As I was driving past this signage I hit what I thought was part of the signage, which I didn’t make much of because the impact was not that hard. It seems the spikes were placed near the signage.”
Poll drove for about 15-20 minutes before she realised she had a flat tyre.
She said her vehicle has run-flats tyres making it a little easier for her to continue driving.
“It was dark, so I couldn’t stop. So I drove slowly in the emergency lane, ” she said.
“I called my father who advised me not to stop and he and my mother got in touch with the CPF in Bronkhorstspruit as well as the local police.
“They called me and also told me not to stop and that they were sending help.”
After a while the tyre was completely damaged, forcing the 23-year-old to drive on the rim for about 20km.
A couple from Bronkhorstspruit’s local CPF eventually met up with her and later the police who confirmed that she had been spiked.
According to the Gauteng traffic police, there was rise in such incidents, some of which led to motorists losing their lives.
“I was lucky, to have the type of tyre I have. What would have happened if I didn’t?
“I tried to remain calm, that’s what got me through the situation.”
Throughout the ordeal, she feared for her life.
READ MORE: Alleged spiker killed in highway shootout with police
Poll called for police visibility on the N4, which she often used to drive home.
The N4 has various spiking hotspots with one of them being the N4 Pretoria to Mpumalanga between Bronkhorstspruit and Balmoral off-ramp.
Another hotspot is the N4 Mpumalanga to Pretoria between Solomon Mahlangu and Watermeyer off-ramp.
“I drive from Hazyview to Pretoria at least twice a month and this entire stretch of the highway I never saw police patrolling the area.
“They know it’s happening so why aren’t they patrolling the area?
“I did not see a single police vehicle on the day and that is a cause for concern.”
This has inspired the speech therapist to start an NGO that will empower women on issues of safety and self defence.
Bronkhorstspruit police said the a case had not been registered.
Poll said she was grateful to everyone who assisted her.
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