Truck ploughs into men on N17 at Trichardt – witnesses sought
According to Mr Stuart his friend was directly in the line of the truck and if he had not pushed Mr Slabbert aside in the time, he would have died.
TRICHARDT – Anyone who witnessed a truck running over two pedestrians on the N17 at the turnoff to Trichardt town and the Trichardsfontein dam on 30 April, is asked to step forward.
Messrs Carel James Stuart (CJ) and David Slabbert, two confectioners from Bethal, visited a client in Trichardt and were waiting on the side of the highway for their lift back to Bethal at about 1.30pm when a truck veered off the road and ploughed into them.
According to Mr Stuart his friend was directly in the line of the truck and if he had not pushed Mr Slabbert aside in the time, he would have died.
Mr Slabbert’s right hand was badly injured and he hardly has any feeling in his hand.
Mr Stuart’s injuries included a broken nose and cheekbone, deep cuts to his forehead, and scrapes and bruises all over his body.
He was knocked unconscious and remained in hospital for more than a week.
Many residents will know Mr Stuart as the person who officially began the cleaning up project at Evander last year.
According to him, the truck driver allegedly made a U-turn after bumping into them and headed into town.
“I was told that he went to the police station and told them he suspected that he might have knocked something or someone over,” said Mr Stuart.
The two friends make a living from baking and selling cookies and wedding cakes, but business is slow because of their injuries.
Mr Slabbert is the wedding cake baker, but cannot work currently, because of his injured right hand.
Despite Mr Stuart’s head injuries, he already began to bake biscuits again.
The two men are asking anyone with information about the accident to contact them.
Contact Mr Stuart at 062 989 5945.
