KNYSNA NEWS - A tragic incident on the N2 at St James Memorial Square in the early hours of Sunday morning, 24 July, took the life of a young woman and seriously injured three others.
A man, Ricardo Damons (35), was arrested on the scene and appeared in the Knysna Magistrate's Court on a charge of murder on Monday 25 July.
The case was postponed to Wednesday 27 July for a bail hearing and again to Thursday 28 July for a continuation thereof.
The incident occurred at about 02:00, and according to Southern Cape police spokesperson Capt Malcolm Pojie, it was the result of an altercation in a night club that involved Damons and other club-goers.
"The fight continued and expanded to the outside, whereafter the suspect allegedly jumped into his vehicle and sped towards the people he fought with. He missed them and hit the bystanders," Pojie explained.
It is thought that Damons lost control of his Toyota single cab bakkie and hit the wrong group of people. Pojie indicated that the three injured individuals - two men and a woman who is believed to be the mother of the deceased - were admitted to Knysna Provincial Hospital.
"Later the woman was transferred to George Hospital for further medical attention." She has since undergone an operation and is still recovering in hospital.
The outcome of Wednesday's court appearance was not available at the time of going to print. "The possibility that more charges could be added is not excluded. The investigation continues," Pojie said.
The incident has brought the controversy about the fact that the N2 runs through central Knysna to the fore again. Paul Zeman, an owner of a club on the Main Road (N2) near where the accident occurred, was one of the people to speak up on the matter.
"Violent happenings on Knysna's Main Road have never been resolved,'' he said. ''I'll never forget the shocking sight of the tragic and unnecessary death of the elderly lady whose last living memory was holding her husband's hand as she was pulled under the wheels of a 18-wheeler truck while crossing the street to buy a battery for her vintage watch.
"The utter shock, despair and heartbreak on his face is a sight I will never forget. I'm still reeling with sadness and then last night while cashing up, we heard the acceleration of a car just before it ploughed into a crowd on Main Road at Memorial Square followed by a white VW Golf a half-an-hour later which mounted the pavement next to Absa bank in the direction of the waterfront. Utterly gobsmacked!!!"
The bakkie that was involved in the incident.
In the days after the accident a video showing horrific detail of the scene was circulated on social media.
Out of respect for the deceased and her family, Knysna-Plett Herald urges members of the public to refrain from circulating this video.
The family of the deceased has requested that KPH does not publish the identity of the deceased before all family members have been notified.
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