A traffic nightmare unfolded when a police vehicle allegedly collided with two other vehicles at the busy intersection of Main Road and the R44 in Somerset West last Friday afternoon (13 Janaury).
The police vehicle was apparently on route to a business robbery taking place at a mobile coffee shop when the accident occurred.
Sergeant Suzan Jantjies, spokesperson for Somerset West police, confirmed a case of reckless and negligent driving is under investigation after three vehicles were involved in the accident near the Lord Charles Hotel at 13:25.
“A police vehicle was travelling on Main Road when it collided with two vehicles at the intersection during load shedding,” Jantjies explained.
“The police vehicle was responding to a business robbery in the area when the accident happen. Two other vehicles, a white Ford Ranger and a white Hyundai truck, were involved. Both police members sustained injuries and were transported to hospital for medical attention, while the drivers of the other vehicles only reported damage to their vehicles.”
A couple of minutes after the accident occurred, information of the incident was shared on the N2 Safety Group on WhatsApp. Load shedding, which was in full swing at the time, worsened the situation and some lanes on both Main Road and the R44 were closed due to the accident.
Motorists were forced to seek alternative routes, while others were stuck in traffic jams in both directions.
Somerset West station commander Colonel Jacolize Fleischmann wished the police officers a speedy recovery.
