Somerset West police have compiled an accident report after two vehicles overturned in a collision at the corners of Main Road and Coronation Avenue last Wednesday (19 April).
According to Sergeant Suzan Jantjies, spokesperson for the Somerset West police, officers responded to the incident at 14:05 on Wednesday. She said the collision apparently occurred as a black Chevrolet Spark paused on turning right from Main Road into Coronation Avenue and a white Ford bakkie travelling in the same lane crashed into its rear end.
“Both vehicles overturned and both drivers survived the incident without any serious injuries,” said Jantjies.
According to the driver of the Chevrolet, Caroline Levine, the incident left her and her brother (24) reeling in shock.
“Everything still feels so surreal,” said the 31-year-old from Gordon’s Bay.
“We are just so grateful to be alive.”
The siblings had just wrapped up a game of tennis at the Strand courts and were planning on grabbing a quick bite to eat at a restaurant in Main Road when the accident occurred.
“We pulled up at the intersection, slowed down and yielded for a gap and suddenly we felt the impact,” Levine recalled. “As the vehicle lifted up our car my brother yelled ‘Lina!’, and we looked at each other as we were airborne and the vehicle started rolling. When our car came crashing down on its side we quickly loosened each other’s seat belts before exiting the vehicle through a broken window.”
Neither had ever experienced anything like this before.
“Here we were, siblings just driving to go get lunch,” Levine’s brother Eugene said. “Just before the impact I was making a joke and we were having a laugh, and then boom! Everything changed in that moment. It felt unbelievable and I remember time just slowing down as we were rolling and turning in the car. My biggest fear was getting out when the car stopped after being jolted into oncoming traffic. I am honestly just grateful that we are alive and well after such an eye opening collision.”
The siblings, who received medical assistance for possible concussion after the accident, thanked the community for their swift response following the collision and the valued support and astounding kindness offered at the scene.
Despite attempts, DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette could not make contact with the driver of the other vehicle by the time of going to print.
The incident was one of two separate collisions that occurred on arterial Helderberg roads a mere day apart and resulted in the same fate. Wednesday’s accident in Somerset West was preceded by another in Main Road, Van der Stel the day before (Tuesday 18 April).
According to a Strand police spokesperson the collision occurred at 16:00 and involved two motor vehicles, a white Opel Corsa bakkie and a dark-coloured Dodge Caliber.
“The vehicles collided as the bakkie was driving in Main Road and the car was exiting a parking bay,” the spokesperson said. “The car side swiped the moving bakkie, which overturned and landed on its side.
“No injuries were reported. An accident report was compiled.”
