A young officer lost his life over the weekend when he stopped to assist at a hit-and-run incident.
Lyle Thomas (28) of Bonteheuwel died when a car crashed into the accident scene he was assisting in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Captain FC van Wyk, of the police’s provincial media centre said police were investigating the scene of a fatal hit-and-run on Jakes Gerwel Drive, when Thomas, an off-duty Leap officer, stopped to assist.
“The police vehicle was parked on the side of the road with flashing blue lights,” Van Wyk said.
“An off-duty law enforcement officer stopped on the left side of the road with his VW Polo to assist the police members with the accident. A silver grey Toyota Fortuner came at a very high speed and drove into the back of the police vehicle which then overturned.”
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Van Wyk said the officer was killed when the Fortuner “rammed into a nearby tree and came to a complete stop”.
“The 37-year-old driver of the Toyota Fortuner was arrested and taken to the shadow centre for a blood alcohol test, and afterwards detained at Nyanga police station on a charge of culpable homicide. He will appear in court once charged,” he said.
A secondary case of culpable homicide is also under investigation for the man who had been killed in the first hit-and-run, though his identity and the identity of the driver who knocked him down are both unknown.
Van Wyk encouraged anyone who had information on either accident to contact the police on 08600 10111 or to use the MySAPS app anonymously.
Several city officials have expressed their grief and condolences on Lyle’s passing.
A life dedicated to service
Sub-council 15 chair Angus McKenzie said Thomas was a committed member of the Bonteheuwel Neighbourhood Watch, and a proud Leap officer.
“Lyle’s life was one defined by service. He lived not for himself, but for the safety, dignity, and well-being of others. Even while off duty, his instinct was to help, to protect, and to serve,” McKenzie said.
“This loss is devastating. Lyle was young, driven, and deeply committed to his community,” he said. The MEC for police oversight, Anroux Marais, also expressed “profound sorrow”.
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“This is a devastating loss of a young life dedicated to service. Officer Thomas was not only a Leap officer but a young man whose life was defined by commitment, courage, and selflessness. Even when he was not required to act, his instinct was to help and to protect others. That sense of duty ultimately cost him his life,” Marais said.
“We are heartbroken by the death of Officer Lyle Thomas, a young man who embodied the very values of service, courage and commitment to community safety. He died doing what he believed in, protecting others. This is a devastating loss for his family, his colleagues, his community and our province.”
Marais added that the tragedy underscores both the dangers faced daily by law enforcement officers and the devastating consequences of reckless driving.
“Our officers put themselves in harm’s way every single day to keep our communities safe. It is unacceptable that an officer should lose his life because of alleged reckless and irresponsible driving,” she said.
