Man held after cyclist's death
by Carina van Wyk
2008-05-28 09:48
Heidelberg - A man was expected to appear in the Heidelberg Magistrate's Court in connection with the hit-and-run accident in which a cyclist from Boksburg died over the weekend.
Police spokesperson Captain Petros Mabuza said the 62-year-old suspect reported at the Brakpan police station on the East Rand that the vehicle, which was possibly linked to the accident, had been stolen.
Property developer Mias Jansen van Vuuren, 49, died on Sunday at about 08:00 after he had been hit by the vehicle on the R550 (the road between Lenasia and Nigel).
Frikkie Jansen van Vuuren, 40, (who was not related to the deceased) and Kenneth Constable, 39, had bruises and abrasions but were discharged from hospital on Tuesday.
Family doing well
They were part of a group of men who had gone cycling together that morning.
The accident occurred when they were on their way back to Boksburg.
On Sunday afternoon the police found a silver Tata Indica, which apparently had a damaged licence plate, abandoned next to the N17 highway near Carnival City in Brakpan.
Mabuza said the owner of the vehicle reported it as stolen on Monday at the Brakpan police office.
He was arrested and the police were carrying out forensic tests to determine whether the vehicle could be linked to the accident.
Mias and his wife Madeleine had two sons, Ivan, 12, and Marcus, 10.
Mias's brother Gideon, 47, said on Monday that the family was doing well under the circumstances.
"The boys are quite emotional but they're coping."
He said the family was sad but that there was no anger.