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Grey College pupils 'in shock'
18/06/2007 14:59 - (SA)
Verashni Pillay
Bloemfontein - Pupils at Grey College are in shock following the death of 15-year-old Ettienne Vosloo on Sunday morning during a joyride with friends, Principal Johan Volsteedt told News24 on Monday.
"We're very sad," Volsteedt said. "It's a heartfelt thing for all of us... most of the boys are in a bit of shock."
The accident happened at about 02:20 on Sunday when Vosloo and four of his friends allegedly drove through Bloemfontein in a BMW. The friends apparently tried to get away from another vehicle that was following them.
Police spokesperson, Captain Magda Muller, told News24 that the 15-year-old driver had taken his father's car without permission and driven to pick up his four friends - who are all boarders - at the school.
The car smashed into a tree on the corner of Dan Pienaar Drive and Leipoldt Street after the driver apparently lost control of the vehicle, killing Vosloo and injuring the others.
Muller couldn't confirm whether the pupils were coming back from a party.
All the boys involved in the accident are Grade 10 pupils at Grey College.
Volsteedt said that while many of the pupils were not around because of exams, they had read scriptures and said prayers at assembly on Monday morning.
Vosloo was a boarder, from Barkley East in the Eastern Cape.
Volsteedt said he was expecting Vosloo's parents on Monday to make arrangements for the boy's funeral.
"We're going to see if they'd prefer to have it from here or from Barkley East," said Volsteedt. He said that depending on where it was, many of Vosloo's classmates from the 251-strong Grade 10 class would attend. "They all knew each other. He shared a room with others in his hostel so there is a smaller group there who is affected."
Meanwhile, the 15-year-old driver appeared in Bloemfontein magistrate's court on Monday on a charge of culpable homicide and drunken driving.
One of the passengers, 16-year-old Wilco van der Merwe, was seriously injured and was admitted to the Bloemfontein Medi-Clinic in a critical condition, according to Muller.
The other two passengers, Jeanne Immelman and Estian Ferreira, were slightly injured along with the driver.
- News24
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