We're shattered, says mom, 80

2009-01-06 16:49

Verashni Pillay

Johannesburg - "We're all shattered," says 80-year-old Joan Hunter whose son and daughter-in-law died in a horror crash in Stellenbosch on Monday.

Andre, 54, and 53-year-old Rika Hunter died when a train slammed into their rented car along Vlaeberg Road.

The Hunters were on holiday with two friends who also died in the accident.

"We can't believe what has happened," said Joan Hunter.

She'd been on holiday with Andre but returned to Kempton Park on Friday.

"They were spending another week there," she said.

The four were staying at the Zevenwacht wine estate and were on a wine-tasting tour when a Metrorail train bound for Muldersvlei hit their vehicle.

Heard about deaths in media

Joan said they were furious at having to find out about the deaths through the media.

"We are really very upset because nobody informed us," said Joan who saw an article about the crash in a newspaper before the names were published.

"I didn't go into it very thoroughly because I didn't think it affected me."

Later someone phoned the family and said they had heard the names on eNews, said Joan.

"It's unacceptable," she said.

It appears that police released the names before informing the family of the deaths.

"You know I've just lost my husband two months ago so this is a double blow. I don't know how to handle this."

Metrorail released a statement saying the train driver, who slammed on his brakes as soon as he saw the car, was severely traumatised.

Speaking about the tragedy, Regional Manager Stephen Ngobeni said Metrorail would conduct an internal investigation into the accident and co-operate fully with the police investigation.

Gentina Doubell was the second woman killed while the fourth person who died has yet to be identified by police.

- News24