Girl, 11, dies after collision

2003-02-04 10:39

Linda de Nysschen

Middelburg - An 11-year old girl, who was looking forward to the birth of a brother in three weeks' time, died on Monday morning when she unwittingly swerved in front of a car with her bicycle.

Gerda Opperman died of her injuries about 200m away from her parents' house in Voortrekker Street.

She was on her way to school shortly after 07:00 and wanted to cross the road to meet a friend when the accident happened. Paramedics tried in vain to save her life.

Police did not want to release the name of the woman who drove the car. She apparently is a teacher at a local high school and was severely traumatised by the accident.

Gerda was the only child of Captain Audrey Opperman-Turpin of the police's crime intelligence unit.

Opperman-Turpin and her husband, Alex, are expecting their first child in three weeks' time. Gerda's father, Gert Opperman, lives in Cape Town.

Opperman-Turpin was discharged from Midmed Hospital on Monday afternoon after she and her husband were treated for shock.

Inspector Marlies van Niekerk, a colleague and friend, said: "Gerda was everything to Audrey. They were very excited about the new baby," .

Gert van Zyl, principal of Middelburg Primary, said the school was mourning Gerda's death.

"I have arranged for her friends to go for counselling on Tuesday. She was a lovely child. We loved her very much," he said.

A post-mortem was to be done on Tuesday to determine the exact cause of death.

- Beeld