Drag-race toll rises to 6
2004-08-10 13:11
Pretoria - The death toll from an accident at an illegal drag-race at the Odi airstrip in North West on Sunday rose to six when a second man died in hospital on Tuesday.
A spokesperson at George Mukhari hospital said Lucky Simbambo, 19, died of multiple injuries in the hospital's intensive care unit.
Buti Baloyi, age unknown, died of multiple fractures in the hospital's casualty ward on Monday night.
A third man, Themba Mnisi, age unknown, was awaiting surgery.
Four people were killed on the disused airstrip at Kgabalatsane village during an illegal drag-racing contest when a car ploughed into spectators who ran to touch a car doing "doughnuts" on the track.
North West police spokesperson Inspector Matthews Nkoadi said the 27-year-old driver of the car escaped injury and was arrested on charges of culpable homicide.
He would appear in the Ga-Rankuwa magistrate's court on Tuesday.
"The Odi race track used to be an airstrip but it's no longer in use.
"Apparently these drivers have some agreement with the village chief to use the track but it's the first time that there's been an accident in a year," Nkoadi said.
All the dead were from Mabopane and Soshanguve.
- SAPA