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Road rage in posh PE suburb
04/09/2005 22:38 - (SA)
Mariska Petzer, Die Burger
Port Elizabeth - "It seems as if Summerstrand is becoming a criminal nest - the Bronx in our midst."
That was the opinion of a shocked Ernst Hewitt, a businessman from Port Elizabeth, after two armed men were involved in an alleged case of road rage.
The two men jumped out of their vehicle with handguns raised above their heads at a traffic light at a supermarket early in the evening and approached the car behind them.
The driver of a white Mazda desperately tried to back off, but in the process reversed into a motorcycle behind him, said Hewitt, who witnessed the incident.
"The armed men returned to their vehicle and raced away only after the Mazda had crashed into the bike and the two bikers were lying on the ground," he said.
Hewitt rushed to the aid of the injured Gary and Belinda Wiblin.
Wiblin, who broke his wrist and cut his right hand, said it felt as if he had been caught in a shoot-out. His bike was also damaged.
Hewitt said incidents such as these could be eliminated with more visible policing in the area and on the beach front.
He was concerned that the police members who were available apparently also couldn't rely on logistical support.
"When the police arrived I wanted to know if they were going to pursue the suspects. "They said they couldn't, since they had only one vehicle and had to investigate four other charges as well," Hewitt said.
Captain André Beetge, a police spokesperson, said enough police members were deployed in the area. "We can't place a policeman at every lamp post," he said.
- Die Burger
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