Motorists’ negligence is on the increase. This is becoming more and more evident with the continued spate of vehicle accidents in and around Makhado (Louis Trichardt).

The culprits are not just the general public, however. On Saturday afternoon (22nd) a traffic officer caused quite a stir when he rear-ended his vehicle into the bakkie of Mr Riaan Volschenk.  The accident occurred on the corner of Douthwait and Rissik Street.

According to Volschenk, the officer seemed to be under the influence of alcohol. “After he had crashed into me, he jumped out his vehicle and threw a couple of empty beer bottles away,” said Volschenk on Monday.  “The driver also told me that he worked at the Makhado traffic station".

After disposing of the empty bottles, the officer then proceeded to phone a friend, who promptly came to take him away. Volschenk was informed that the driver was taken to hospital. Later, however, when one of Volschenk’s friends went with the police in search of the driver, no trace of him could be found at either the Zoutpansberg Private Hospital or the Louis Trichardt Memorial Hospital.

Another man arrived on the accident scene and informed Volschenk, as well as the police, that he was the owner of the vehicle. This is where the story apparently ended, according to Volschenk. “It bothers me that this whole accident is being covered up,” he had said.

At the time of going to press, the only information supplied by the Makhado police was that they were investigating a case of reckless and negligent driving against a 38-year-old driver. The driver’s name was not issued.

The police also confirmed that a case of culpable homicide was opened for investigation after a pedestrian died that same evening. According to information supplied by the police, a vehicle travelling along the N1 near Makhado Park knocked the pedestrian down. The man was declared dead on the scene and had yet to be identified at the time of going to press. 

On Sunday, during two separate incidents, the police arrested two suspects between the ages of 29 and 39 on charges of drunken driving.

On Monday afternoon, two minor accidents occurred. In the first accident, a bakkie overturned on the Vivo road just past Ottos Hoogte. According to information available, the driver misjudged the turn and lost control over his vehicle. During rush hour later that afternoon, a sedan and truck collided with each other at the Krogh and Rissik Street intersection. In neither accident did anyone sustain serious injuries.