The South African Police Service in Aberdeen is currently investigating a case of culpable homicide and driving while under the influence of alcohol after members attended to the scene of an accident that occurred on the N9 close to the Aberdeen and Graaff-Reinet intersection on 28 June.
According to police spokesperson Captain Marius McCarthy, the SAPS members noticed a white Ford Ranger bakkie parked on the road and a silver Toyota Corolla sedan parked next to the road and facing in the direction of Beaufort West upon their arrival at the accident scene.
McCarthy confirmed that an adult female passenger inside the Toyota Corolla was declared dead on the scene by the Emergency Medical Services, and the adult male driver and two other passengers – an adult male and a young child – were seriously injured.
He said that they were transported to the Midland Hospital in Graaff-Reinet together with an adult male bystander who was also seriously injured in the accident.
McCarthy said that the bystander was standing at the side of the road hitchhiking and was struck by the colliding vehicles.
The Midland Hospital subsequently informed the Aberdeen SAPS that the hitchhiker also passed away in hospital.
McCarthy said that the driver of the Ford Ranger was not injured but was found to be under the influence of alcohol.
“He was tested at the Aberdeen Hospital and placed under arrest for culpable homicide and driving under the influence of alcohol,” said McCarthy.
According to an eyewitness who spoke to the Komani-Karoo Express on June 28, the accident occurred after the driver of the Ford Ranger failed to stop at the intersection and drove onto the N9.
The Cape Town-registered Toyota Corolla was travelling on the N9 from Graaff-Reinet and collided with the Ford Ranger.
The eyewitness said she was following the Ford Ranger after she saw the vehicle swerving on the main road in town and noticed that the driver had an alcoholic beverage in hand.
As they were approaching the N9 intersection, she took a photo of his number plate for SAPS to remove the vehicle from the road, since she believed the driver to be a danger to himself and other road users.
After taking the photo, she turned around and wanted to proceed to the police station but then saw the accident occurring in her rearview mirror.
It was confirmed that the driver of the Ford Ranger will be appearing in the Aberdeen Magistrate’s Court on 3 July .
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