Police Cause Accident, Flee Scene, Crash Again

In a bizarre twist, ER24 paramedics responded to two separate accidents this evening involving the same SAPS patrol vehicle. In the first accident, we responded to the N3 Spaghetti Junction where a SAPS vehicle from Inanda allegedly collided with the back of a civilian motor vehicle in the wet weather. This happened just before 7pm. Instead of stopping to assist the motorists and assessing if they were alright, the SAPS vehicle allegedly sped off leaving the civilians stranded in the rain, with a severely damaged vehicle. Fortunately there were no injuries at the scene. The civilians pointed out that the police vehicle had taken the N2 freeway and headed north towards Umhlanga.

While paramedics were still at this scene, we were called to the N2 north just after the Spaghetti Junction for a report of a serious accident involving another SAPS vehicle. When we arrived we found the SAPS vehicle that had allegedly fled the scene of the first accident, as well as another two vehicles. The Inanda SAPS vehicle had broken down in the fast lane and another SAPS patrol vehicle from KwaMashu had stopped to assist him. It was then that tragedy struck again when a civilian bakkie skidded into the back of the KwaMashu SAPS vehicle, causing both vehicles to spin out of control. Fortunately no police members were injured in the accident however a civilian from the bakkie was taken to hospital by ER24 ambulance.

The injured man sustained suspected neck and back injuries. He is in a stable condition at Durban’s Addington hospital.

Traffic was backed up past Spaghetti Junction as well as on the onramps from the N3 as the cars were spread over 2 of the 3 lanes of the busy highway. The wet weather was a concern as motorists continued to drive at normal speeds despite the added danger of aquaplaning their vehicles.
It is not known at this stage whether the SAPS member has been charged.