Update
PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Following the horrific accident on the N2 just outside Plettenberg Bay last week, which claimed the lives of two people, residents have taken to social media to warn motorists of the dangers that lurk on the stretch of highway between Plett and Knysna.
Plettenberg Bay police spokesman Captain Marlene Pieterse said that police were investigating a case of culpable homicide following the crash which occurred near the Blue Hills Bird Farm outside the coastal holiday town at about 22:20 on Thursday 14 December.
Pieterse said an initial investigation into the cause of the collision revealed that the incident involved an Intercape bus, travelling to Cape Town, and a white Fiat Punto, with a GP registration, travelling in the opposite direction toward Plett.
It is alleged that the Punto veered into the lane of oncoming traffic and collided head-on with the bus.
“The driver of the Fiat was alone in the vehicle and died on impact,” Pieterse said.
She added that the identity of the driver was still being established as the man had no identification in the vehicle. “There was no ID document or licence.”
Pieterse said the 36-year-old bus driver was seriously injured and transported to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.
“The 41 passengers, the co-driver and trainee driver on the bus were treated for minor injuries on the scene. The passengers were then further transported to their destination by another bus.”
The driver of the Fiat has been identified by his employer as 26-year-old Benson Kamanga from Plettenberg Bay. He is a Malawian.
The bus driver was identified by his family. He is Sibongile Mzondi and was from Wallacedene, Kraaifontein.
'Very scary' to turn off
In the meantime locals have said on social media that the stretch of road between the two coastal holiday towns had various dangers.
Some say turning into properties in Harkerville was very “scary” as motorists travelling behind vehicles wanting to turn off the N2 rarely paid attention which has led to “close shaves” and last-minute overtakes.
Some residents say that overtaking on solid lines on blind rises were also common occurrences.
The Western Cape transport department says it has been cracking down on reckless drivers and just over the past weekend arrested a large number of motorists.
According to provincial traffic chief Kenny Africa, 36 motorists had been arrested for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol between Saturday and Sunday. Ten of these were arrested on the Garden Route around Mossel Bay and three in the George area.
A further five were arrested in the Swellendam area; five in the Worcester; five in the Brackenfell; three in Caledon; three in Laingsburg; and two in the Somerset West area.
In addition traffic officers arrested three people for reckless and negligent driving in the province, two for being in possession of false documentation and two for overloading goods vehicles.
“Breath testing was performed on 4 157 drivers at 29 alcohol blitz roadblocks across the province.
"The highest breath alcohol reading was recorded in the Swellendam area. At 1,49mg of alcohol/1 000ml of breath, this is over six times the legal limit of 0,24mg/1 000ml,” Africa said.
A total of 287 speeding offences were recorded and 600 fines totalling of R857 690 were issued for a variety of reasons, ranging from driver to vehicle fitness violations.
“The highest speeds recorded were: 164 km/h in a 120 km/h zone on the N2 near Mossel Bay; 129 km/h in a 80 km/h zone in Somerset West; and 95 km/h in a 60 km/h zone in the N2 Somerset West service area.”
Read a related article: 2 die after driver veers into bus
ARTICLE: YOLANDÉ STANDER, KNYSNA-PLETT HERALD CORRESPONDENT
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