'Drunk' taxi driver hits student
2009-02-26 08:12
Norman Silke
Port Elizabeth - A taxi driver has been arrested after he hit a 19-year-old student on a pedestrian crossing.
Jason Kruger is fighting for his life in Netcare Greenacres Hospital after the taxi rammed into him while he was on the crossing at Admiralty and University roads on his bicycle on Tuesday afternoon.
The first-year BA student at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) was dragged behind the vehicle for nearly 30 metres.
The taxi driver, who was presumably intoxicated, was arrested on the scene. Police spokesperson Sergeant Tembi Gwe said he was in custody and will appear in the North End Magistrate's Court on Thursday. He will be charged with reckless and negligent driving, and driving under the influence of alcohol.
Serious injuries
Jason's father, Zwaai Kruger, said his skull had been fractured and he had a cerebral haemorrhage.
His arm and collarbone were broken, he lost some of his teeth, and all the ligaments in his hands were torn. He also has several cuts across his body.
Kruger added that his son was in severe pain because the doctors didn't want to sedate him.
"They have to keep him awake to establish whether he has brain damage. He will also have to take epilepsy medication for the next six months," Kruger explained.
He added that Jason, who matriculated at Knysna High School last year, was so happy to be at university that his whole personality changed.
The Kugers live in Sedgefield and Jason's mother, Carrie Kruger, is keeping vigil at her son's bedside.
"We are a close-knit family and it's the first time that we've gone through this kind of trauma," she said.
Taxis carried on speeding past
A witness said the accident had brought traffic to a standstill, but several taxis simply sped past the other vehicles. In the process Jason and the people who were helping him were almost hit again.
This is the second incident of its kind in University Road.
In 2001 Vanessa Baldwin, 19, died when a taxi hit her scooter.
Roslyn Baatjies, an NMMU spokesperson, said the university was deeply shocked about the incident, especially because it had been complaining for years to the local authority about the policing of taxis in this area.
NMMU vice-chancellor Prof Derrick Swartz strongly condemned the reckless way taxi drivers drove near the campus and in the city.
He said drivers had no regard for pedestrians, road users or basic traffic rules.
Netcare Greenacres Hospital said Jason was awake on Wednesday evening and in a stable condition.
He is still in intensive care.
- Die Burger