A young man’s dreams crumbled unexpectedly when he was crushed to death by a police vehicle in Thohoyandou town on Sunday evening. Bemused community members watched in disbelief as the lifeless body of Lufuno Nefale lay next to the busy public road near Vevisa Lodge while waiting for the funeral undertakers to take his body to the mortuary.

Lufuno, who was in his early 20s, stays at Thohoyandou P East. His sad ending sent shockwaves to both community members and police officers who visited the scene of the accident.

Eyewitness Gudani Mukosi (15) explains what happened: "I was walking on the pavement when I saw two vehicles moving towards JJ Motors. The other one in another lane applied some his brakes, but the driver managed to avoid Lufuno, who was already in the road. I heard a loud sound and I immediately rushed there and found Lufuno lying on the other side of the road, dead. After the vehicle had hit him, he also hit a road sign that injured him before he came to rest on the ground. I realized that the vehicle that hit him belonged to the police and it stopped not very far from where the incident took place."

Gudani said emergency staff members came to the scene, but it was already too late. "The ambulances had to drive back and the only option was to take Lufuno’s body to the mortuary. This is one of the most horrible deaths I have ever come across in my life."

When approached, the police officer who had been driving the vehicle that hit Lufuno refused to give his name and said: "I have already given all the information to these police officers who are on duty and they are the ones who can assist you with all the information you need."

Insp Nkanukeni Raedani of the Thohoyandou SAPS confirmed the incident and said police were investigating a case of culpable homicide.