Trichardt businessman dies in alleged vehicle pursuit
His last call to a relative was at about 17:30, stressing that three vehicles – a white Audi, a white C-class Mercedes and a white Hilux GD6 bakkie – were pursuing him and that the pursuers had guns.
Yousuf Mohammed (50), a Bangladeshi national and businessman in Trichardt, was killed in an alleged pursuit on May 14.
The Ridge Times received a call about a single-vehicle accident on the secluded R580 near the Evander and Skyhill four-way crossing at around 19:30.
Unconfirmed reports was that Mohammed was in Trichardt receiving stock of cigarettes that was delivered by truck, but while stock was being loaded into his vehicle, he apparently became suspicious of his surroundings.
The businessman took off in his car, allegedly with three other vehicles on his tail. Mohammed ended up on the R77 (Secunda-Evander road) towards Skyhill.
His last call to a relative was at about 17:30, stressing that three vehicles – a white Audi, a white C-class Mercedes and a white Hilux GD6 bakkie – were pursuing him and that the pursuers had guns.
His relative urged him to drive back to Trichardt, but he could not evade those pursuing his vehicle. It’s suspected he was chased down on the secluded Winkelhaak Road (R580), where his vehicle crashed into a concrete barrier on a bridge, instantly killing him.
It is unknown how the crash happened. ER24 declared Mohammed dead on the scene. When the Ridge Times was on the scene, it was unknown if other people were with Mohammed in his vehicle.
Bidvest’s UDS drone crew searched the area and found only parts of the vehicle wreckage. It was later confirmed that Mohammed was the only person in his vehicle.
In the meantime, Mohammed’s relatives searched for him after his last frantic message. The relatives were at Evander Hospital when they received the call that Mohammed and his vehicle were found on the R580, so they went to the scene and identified him.
Constable Busi Mthetwa, the spokesperson for the Secunda SAPS, could not confirm the details surrounding a pursuit.
She said the police are investigating a case of culpable homicide and that anyone with information that could help the investigation could contact Captain Solly Msibi on 071 664 1047.
The cigarettes were booked in as evidence. Mohammed’s remains has since been flown back to Bangladesh.
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