GQEBERHA – A man died after his vehicle crashed into a wall at the intersection of Henri Botha Street and Circular Drive in Lorraine, Gqeberha, on Friday evening, 23 October.
It is believed that the victim was stabbed during a road rage incident. He then drove away before losing control of his vehicle. Police are investigating but have not yet confirmed the details.
An eyewitness said the incident happened at about 20:15 as she and her husband drove home along Henri Botha Avenue towards Circular Drive.
She said they came across a white car with tinted windows moving slowly in their lane with its hazard lights on.
“Our immediate instinct was that something was wrong. I told my husband to go around the car, fearing it might be a hijacking attempt,” said the eyewitness who asked to remain anonymous.
They drove past the vehicle and stopped at the traffic light about three metres ahead. Moments later, they heard a crash followed by continuous hooting.
“We pulled onto the pavement. My husband immediately contacted our neighbourhood watch group to request help and an ambulance. I ran towards the vehicle,” she said.
“As I reached it, I noticed blood on the outside of the driver’s door. I hesitated and shouted to my husband that something was wrong.”
A person from across the road came running to help. He opened the driver’s door and found the man bent over towards the passenger seat, with a large amount of blood visible.
“This struck me as unusual, as the car had not been travelling at speed when it passed us,” the witness said.
Within minutes, security vehicles, an ambulance and police arrived at the scene. Paramedics declared the man dead at the scene. A woman believed to be his wife arrived after police, along with other family members.
In a social media comment, Samantha Jane Cox, who identified the deceased as her cousin’s husband, said police were investigating and that the family suspected road rage.
“He was stabbed in the heart, neck and head,” Cox wrote.
“Sadly, he passed away. We as a family are in shock. A nice Friday night dinner ending in tragedy.”
ALSO READ: Learner fatally stabbed as minor suspect appears before court
