Ashley to blame - metro cops
20/02/2008 22:10  - (SA)  

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Annelene Moses, Beeld

Johannesburg - The metro police say Isidingo star Ashley Callie may have been to blame for the car crash that killed her.

Ashley, 33, who was travelling alone in her Smart car, was apparently on the wrong side of the road.

Her car and a Renault Scenic had a head-on collision at the corner of Tana and Linden roads in Emmarentia.

The findings were conveyed to the police on Wednesday for further investigation.

Police spokesperson Bokkie Keulder said only the courts could decide who was responsible and if there should be a prosecution.

Keulder said the police investigation would take time because the statements of the survivors, of whom three were still in hospital, still had to be taken.

Witnesses and the officers who went to the scene of the accident would be questioned again before the file was referred to the courts for a decision.

Case of culpable homicide

Johannesburg metro spokesperson Edna Mamonya said the investigating team had questioned witnesses and had visited the accident scene several times to reconstruct the event.

Initially, a charge of reckless and negligent driving had been investigated, but when Ashley died of brain injuries a week after the crash, a case of culpable homicide was opened.

Mamonyane said Ashley was crossing from Linden Road to get to 3rd Avenue, an extension of the road.

The driver of the Scenic, Nico Pretorius, was in 3rd Avenue and wanted to turn into Linden Road.

The traffic light was green and all the two cars had to do was drive past each other.

For "some or other unknown reason", Ashley landed in the wrong lane, directly in the path of the oncoming Scenic.

Mamonyane said: "He tried to swerve out of the way, but they crashed head-on. We can't say if she may have dozed off, or make any statement about mechanical problems." Mamonyane said neither driver's blood had been tested for alcohol.

Were wearing seatbelts

"The first priority was to save lives. When patients have been put on to a drip, it's too late to test for alcohol."

Both drivers were wearing seatbelts.

Amelda Swartz of Milpark Hospitaal said Ojin Lee, 17, was still in ICU and was often visited by her sister, Oyoon, 16, and their friend, Ashley Macaulay, also 16, who are in a general ward.

A memorial service for Ashley Callie is scheduled at 10:00 for 10:30 on Thursday at Johannesburg Country Club in Auckland Park.

 

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