Drunk driver leaves 3 without a dad
André Myburgh's three young sons were left without a dad to celebrate Father's Day with on Sunday, after a collision on the N1 between Polokwane and Mokopane claimed his life just after lunch on Saturday.
POLOKWANE – André Myburgh’s three young sons were left without a dad to celebrate Father’s Day with on Sunday, after a collision on the N1 between Polokwane and Mokopane claimed his life just after lunch on Saturday.
The Myburgh family had visited friends in Mokopane and was travelling back to Polokwane in two vehicles when the tragedy occurred.
André’s wife, Hermien, and the couple’s three children were driving in front with André and a family friend, Gerhardt Dettmann trailing in another vehicle.
Near Ysterberg, an oncoming vehicle collided head-on into the vehicle that André and Dettmann were travelling in. André was pronounced dead on the scene while his passenger was taken to hospital after having sustained serious injuries.
According to the accident report, the driver in the oncoming vehicle had been driving under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident. He died on impact.
Eye witness testimony confirmed that several beer bottles were scattered around the scene.
Dettmann’s mother, Wilna van der Merwe, confirmed her son had broken several bones including his jaw, knee, arm, several ribs and his nose.
She expressed her condolences with the Myburgh family, saying her heart goes out to “the woman who lost her husband and whose life has changed forever because of someone who decided to drink and then drive.”
Dettmann, who is married and has two sons, has since been discharged from hospital but will have to undergo several operations.
Roads and transport spokesperson, Jimmy Machaka, has once again appealed to the public to arrive alive.
“The traffic department and police services will be taking a serious approach towards reckless and drunk drivers to make sure that the loss of life on our roads decreases.”
• A memorial service will be held for André Myburgh at the Gereformeerde Kerk on the corner of Jorrison and Voortrekker Street on Friday, June 20 at 11:00.
