Former Bulls player Pedrie Wannenburg has died in a car crash in Texas. Picture: Lefty Shivambu / Gallo Images
Former Springbok rugby player Pedrie Wannenburg has been killed in a car crash in Texas, USA.
According to multiple sources, including khou.com, a teenage driver, fleeing from police, crashed his car (going south) into Wannenburg’s car (going north) after going airborne after first driving into the back of another vehicle, killing the former Bulls loose forward.
It is understood Wannenburg’s two children were also in the car, with his eight-year-old son in a critical condition in hospital.
Three vehicles were involved, and seven people were taken away for treatment.
According to Khou.com, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said the chase suspect is possibly 16 years old. There were two other passengers inside the suspect’s vehicle who are possibly teens as well, the sheriff said.
WATCH HERE AS POLICE EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED IN CRASH
Wannenburg was 41. He played 20 Tests for the Springboks and more than 100 Super Rugby games for the Bulls.
Khou.com said the car chase between police and the car that caused the multi-vehicle crash started late Friday evening. According to the news organisation, investigators said a deputy attempted to pull the teenagers over, for reasons unknown, but the driver sped off and led the deputy on a chase that reached speeds over 100 mph (160km/h).
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The chase ended near an intersection when the suspect crashed into a vehicle and went airborne. The suspect’s vehicle then crashed into a second vehicle with multiple people inside.
Wannenburg and one of the children in his vehicle were flown to the hospital. Wannenburg was later pronounced dead.