Trucker on wrong side of law

2005-02-23 04:07

Carryn-Ann Nel

Durban - High drama, involving a drunk truck driver, a high-speed car chase, warning shots and a brawl inside the truck cab, took place along the N3 highway near Pinetown.

In what could have been a scene out of a movie, a truck driver took alleged driving under the influence of alcohol to a new level on the N3 highway when he drove into oncoming traffic for about 16km on Sunday.

Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident.

According to Philani Mtungwa, provincial traffic inspector for KwaZulu-Natal, the driver's blood alcohol level was about 13 times higher than the legal level.

A man appeared in Pinetown magistrate's court on Monday on charges of drunken driving.

But, according to Mtungwa, it had been touch and go that the truck driver, averaging a speed of 70km/h, did not hit another vehicle.

The drama started when the driver apparently landed up in the wrong lane near the Mariannhill toll plaza, near Pinetown.

Mtungwa was on his way to Durban when he spotted the truck.

"I tried to warn him he was on the wrong side of the road, but he just kept going.

"I switched on my car's hazard lights, but he took no notice of me. Then I followed him and waved my arms in the air."

Mtungwa said that fortunately the road had not been very busy.

After another attempt at getting the driver's attention, Mtungwa stopped and fired off a warning shot.

"When the truck came closer and drove slower, I jumped on to the runningboard and opened the door."

After a struggle in the cab, where the driver apparently bit Mtungwa's hand, the traffic officer was able to lean over and pull up the handbrake.

"My first reaction was that he had been hijacked and was therefore driving on the wrong side of the road. But when I saw him, I thought he might be drunk. The man was taken into custody."

Johan le Roux, managing director of Xinergistix, the company that owns the truck, on Tuesday expressed his anger and concern about the incident.

He said the company found it unacceptable and was taking the issue in a serious light. They also were investigating the incident, he said.

According to Le Roux, the driver had been on his way from East London to Pinetown at the time and had been on duty.

- Die Burger