Cops begin probing Lebo's crash
2006-10-24 11:43
Johannesburg - A reconstruction of the accident which killed South African Rhythm and Blues singer Lebo Mathosa will begin on Tuesday, Ekurhuleni metro police said.
"The accident reconstruction unit will take in all elements of the accident to see what happened," Inspector Kobeli Mokheseng said.
He said Mathosa's driver was in a "state of shock" on Monday and had no visible injuries from the accident.
"Once that report is done we can say whether the driver was responsible or not for the accident."
Mokheseng said Mathosa's driver told him that he lost control of the Toyota Prada they were travelling in and crashed into a tree.
"He couldn't even give me his name."
The driver was not tested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs because he did not display any abnormal behaviour, Mokheseng said.
"There was also no need to do a blood test."
He denied reports that the Ekurhuleni division of metro police had run short of breathalysers.
Chief of metro police Robert McBride was not immediately available for comment following a radio report on the shortages.
Meanwhile, East Rand police spokesperson Superintendent Andy Pieke said investigations into Mathosa's accident would be given to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for further assessment.
"They (the DPP) will then decide if the driver must be arrested."
A case of culpable homicide was opened at the Alberton police station.
The name of the driver would not be released, Pieke said.
Mathosa died at around 00:30 on the N3 highway near the Heidelberg Road off-ramp, east of Johannesburg on Monday.
Mathosa, 29, died on the scene.
- SAPA