Pedestrian Killed on Highway

Yet another pedestrian was killed last night on the notorious N1 highway between Randshow Road and Maraisburg Drive.

Paramedics from ER24 were called out to a serious incident on the highway at approximately 20h00. When they arrived on the scene, they found a man mangled in the slow lane of the highway. The man had multiple injuries and paramedics had to declare him dead on the scene.

According to a bystander on the scene, two vehicles were towing each other on the highway when one of the vehicles allegedly crashed into the pedestrian. It also appears that the pedestrian was dragged for some distance underneath one of the vehicles.

A white Opel Kadett was found several metres up the highway against a barrier. On further investigation, it was noticed that the vehicle was smashed against the side barrier of the highway and had extensive damage to its bonnet and windscreen. It is believed that this was the vehicle that collided with the pedestrian.

However, the owner of the vehicle was no where to be found on the scene and bystanders informed paramedics and Metro Police that they fled the scene shortly after the accident.

Pedestrian accidents on this stretch of road is quite common. There are no street lights and emergency services caution pedestrians not to cross a highway as passing motorists cannot see pedestrians at night. We have attended to numerous fatal pedestrian accidents in this vicinity.

The Johannesburg Metro Police will be investigating the accident. When paramedics departed the scene, the driver and/or its occupants were still no where to be found.

Slip 'n Slide in Linksfield

A 27 year old man fortunately escaped with only minor injuries after his BMW he was travelling in overturned in Linksfield yesterday.

A water patch on Club Street caused havoc for motorists when their vehicles aqua planed. An unfortunate black BMW aqua planed yesterday when the driver allegedly came around the bend on Club Street.

When paramedics arrived on the scene, bystanders were flagging motorists down at the water patch before they ended up in the same way as the BMW. Paramedics found a BMW across the driveway of a house with severe damage to it. A 27 year old driver was treated on the scene for minor injuries and transported to the Linksfield Hospital.

It is believed that the vehicle spun out and flipped into a streetlamp before it landed back onto its wheels in the driveway. The reason for the free flowing water across the road was not clear at the time.

Whilst paramedics were on the scene of the accident, numerous other vehicles skidded through the water, but fortunately had no accident.

Ladies Critical after Crash

Two young ladies are in a critical condition in the Vereeniging Medi Clinic after they were involved in a serious accident on the notorious Frikkie Meyer Street in Vereeniging.

According to bystanders on the scene, the white Uno they were traveling in, overturned several times in the bends of Frikkie Meyer Street. Both of the ladies were thrown out of their vehicle during the crash.

When paramedics arrived on the scene, they found them lying some meters away from the wrecked Uno. Both of the ladies sustained possible major head injuries and multiple injuries to their bodies. They were stabilized on the scene by the paramedics and rushed off to the Vereeniging Medi Clinic where they will receive further medical treatment,

The exact cause for the accident is not known. The local traffic and fire department also attended the scene. No other vehicles were involved in this accident.

Bizarre Death on Sidewalk

A man believed to be in his 50's died a bizarre death this evening in Newlands.

According to about four other pedestrians, they were all walking on the sidewalk towards Roodepoort when a man walking in front of them fell to the ground. One of the pedestrians explained that he was just walking and then he collapsed.

Some of the pedestrians explained on the scene that they did not know what was going on as he appeared to be unconscious. Bystanders and fellow pedestrians could not confirm if the ambulance was called immediately after the incident ocurred.

An ER24 ambulance was on its way back to a base station in Florida when the bystanders flagged them down. The paramedics acted quickly, but soon realized that the man had no signs of life and was already presenting with slight rigor mortis. It is believed that the man was lying next to the road for more than an hour.

He was declared dead on the scene. The police will be investigating the scene.

The man had no identification on him and had only keys in his pocket.

Jaws-of-Life used to Rescue Four

A woman had to be rescued out of the wreck of her car this evening by the jaws-of-life after the car overturned several times.

When paramedics arrived on the scene they found a red Polo Classic obstructing the fast and the middle lane of the highway. Three occupants of the car were injured. The male driver of the car sustained minor injuries. An elderly lady, who was sitting in the back at the time, sustained possible fractures of her legs and is in a serious condition. Another female passenger had to be cut out from the car by the Johannesburg Fire Department.

Paramedics from ER24 and Netcare transported the patients to nearby hospitals for further treatment.

According to a bystander on the scene, the Polo tried to overtake a Ford Ranger and collided with it. No one in the Ford Ranger was injured.

The highway's fast and middle lane was closed off for traffic during the rescue.

The Johannesburg Metro Police Department attended the scene.

Fortunate Escape for Driver

A 31 year old man escaped with only minor injuries last night when his vehicle overturned into a ditch in Industria North.

According to the driver of the Toyota Corolla he allegedly misjudged the bend and lost control over his vehicle. The vehicle crashed through a barbwire fence situated next to the railway line.

When paramedics arrived on the scene, they found the overturned vehicle in the ditch and the man lying on the opposite side of the embankment. Fortunately he sustained only minor injuries and was immobilised on the scene. He was treated for a possible spinal injury.

According to the driver, who was alone in the vehicle at the time, he always travels that road and do not understand what exactly happened. He is in a stable condition in the Flora Clinic.

It took towing some time to remove the vehicle from the ditch.

Gunshot Victim Crash on the Way to Hospital

Five people have been injured last night when the car they were using to rush to hospital overturned in Lombardy East, east of Johannesburg.

It is believed that a man was shot at his home in Lombardy during an armed robbery. Friends of the victim loaded the man into the car and tried to rush him to the Edenvale Hospital.

It is believed that the driver of the red Mazda 323 lost control around a bend in Canning road and the vehicle overturned several times before it came to a standstill on its roof next to the road.

When paramedics arrived on the scene, they found it strange to have a gunshot victim in the overturned car. The driver including three of his occupants climbed out of the car before paramedics arrived. They have sustained only minor injuries. The gunshot victim, however, sustained further injuries and is in a serious, but stable condition in the Edenvale Hospital.

Three of the occupants were transported by ER24 to the Edenvale Hospital.

No other vehicles were involved in this accident.

Abandoned Baby Rescued by Security Guard

An abandoned baby's life was most probably saved this evening by a security guard in Hillbrow.

Paramedics from ER24 were refueling at a local petrol station opposite the Peter Rose Park in Hillbrow when they were approached by a man. The man ran towards the ambulance and said he needs help. He apparently found a baby wrapped in a plastic bag in the park.

ER24 rushed to the park where the baby was. Police officials along with the security guard have rushed the baby off to the Hillbrow Police Station where they waited for paramedics.

Paramedics from ER24 found a little baby girl, believed to be less than a week old, neatly dressed in a pink baby-grow and wrapped in a blanket. The little girl was assessed by paramedics. Fortunately no evidence of any injuries was found and the baby was taken to the Johannesburg General Hospital for a thorough examination.

It is understood that the security guard was busy locking the gates of the park when a man and a lady approached him - in what he described as a big vehicle - and asked him he must wait before he locks up. The security guard was immediately suspicious and watched the couple. According to the guard he saw the man placing something down on the ground moments before they quickly departed the scene.

On further investigation he found the little girl wrapped in the plastic bag. He - the security guard - noticed the ER24 ambulance and immediately called for help.

The police will be investigating this incident and according to the the attending police they have informed Child Line of the incident.

Four Injured On Highway

Numerous people had to swerve suddenly this afternoon when a vehicle carrying four occupants lost control on the N1 Highway at Beyers Naude. It is believed that a white Toyota was traveling in a northern direction on the N1 when the driver allegedly lost control and crashed through the middle barrier of the highway into oncoming traffic.Vehicles traveling in the opposite direction had to swerve when the vehicle made a sudden and dusty appearance through the middle island and landed across the highway, obstructing the middle and fast lane. When paramedics arrived on the scene, they treated four occupants for moderate injuries. They were all stabilized on the scene and then transported to the Olivedale Hospital.Metro Police attended the scene and assisted traffic passed the scene. No one else was involved or injured in this accident.

16 Injured in Taxi Smash

Sixteen people have been injured this evening when a taxi overturned on the R28 highway in the direction of Krugersdorp outside of Diepsloot.

According to the 26 year old taxi driver, the left rear tyre of the taxi burst and he lost control over the vehicle. The taxi overturned several times before it came to a stand still next to the highway against a fence.

When paramedics arrived on the scene they found 16 occupants, including the driver, lying next to the taxi. Two of the 16 occupants were in a serious condition at the time. All of the occupants were transported to the Leratong Hospital for further management.

It is understood that the taxi picked up his occupants in Centurion and was on his way to Kyasands.

No other vehicles were involved. Paramedics from ER24, Johannesburg EMS and Netcare joined forces to quickly treat and evacuate the patients to the hospital.