Duo in hospital after drag race

2008-10-06 21:41

Oris Mnisi

Bushbuckridge - A man and his girlfriend are fighting for their lives in Mapulaneng hospital in Bushbuckridge after their car overturned during a suspected drag race.

The incident took place along the Rolle and MP Stream tar road in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga on Saturday at around 19:00.

"They were racing closely at a very high speed. They warned me with their lights from behind me and I quickly pulled off the road to avoid being hit," a taxi driver who requested to remain anonymous told police at the scene.

The taxi driver said when he first saw the two speeding cars through his rear view mirror, he thought police were chasing after some suspects.

He said he only realised it was a drag race when he noticed that neither the Golf 4 nor the Honda Civic that were racing against each other had police marks on them.

He said the driver of the Golf 4 failed to make a gentle curve when he lost control of his car.

Within seconds he heard tires screeching, followed by a large bang as the car overturned, said the taxi driver.

"I saw the Golf 4 overturning several times off the tar road and spitting the two passengers out of the car. The Honda Civic sped off into the night without stopping at all," said the taxi driver.

Police and paramedics were called to the scene, where the man was identified as Bethuel Sithole, 31, and his girlfriend as Pontsho Mashego, 18. They both live in MP Stream village.

Mhala police spokesperson Constable Robert Makhubela said the two were rushed to the Thulamahashe Health Centre, where they were later transferred to the Mapulaneng hospital for treatment.

Makhubela said Sithole and Mashego sustained serious injuries to the body and were in a critical condition in hospital.

"A case of reckless driving has been opened and investigating continues," said Makhubela, on Monday.

- African Eye