Dead bikers 'weren't drinking'
2007-09-25 08:22
Oudtshoorn - Three of about 600 bikers, who took part in the Springbok motorcycle rally at De Hoek Mountain Resort in the Swartberg, died at the weekend - two of them in accidents, and another one of a heart attack.
Riaan Vosloo from George lost control of his 1400 Kawasaki at about 16:30 on Friday at the road to Kombuisplaas on the road to the Cango Caves.
The motorcycle hit the barrier next to the road and Vosloo tumbled over the edge, falling about 15m to his death.
He died at the scene despite the efforts of emergency workers who tried to save his life. According to bystanders the ambulance arrived at the scene about half an hour after the accident.
Sharp bend
"It's a very sharp bend and there are no warning signs - only a sign indicating a curving road," said Jan Olivier, from Oudtshoorn, on Monday.
Another bystander took pictures of the bike's speedometer stuck on 140km/h, but according to friends who were travelling with Vosloo, they were driving "at an average speed".
Evert Smith and Herman Mostert, both from Oudtshoorn, were driving along with Vosloo towards De Hoek about 16:30 on Friday.
"Herman went through the bend first," said Smith on Monday. "I followed him, and Riaan was behind me. Riaan must have underestimated the bend, because he braked and apparently lost control over the bike.
"The bike went straight towards the barrier. Riaan was thrown about five metres into the air before he tumbled down. He must have fallen at least 15m.
"After the accident we immediately went home," said Smith.
Died on the scene
Vosloo was married and leaves his wife and daughter, said Mostert, who was still too upset on Monday to talk to Die Burger.
About the same time on Friday, Andrew Turner, 37, from Kraaifontein, Cape Town, a member of Hooligans Motorcycle Club, died in an accident near Ronnies Sex Shop near Barrydale.
Turner's wife, Riki, who was following him in a bakkie, on Monday told how their daughter, Jessica, 12, who was with him on the motorcycle, got off at Robertson.
According to her, Jakes du Toit, Turner's friend, noticed her husband's back wheel buckling as if it had hit a rock. Turner lost control of the bike and it slipped on loose gravel next to the road.
"He apparently flew through the air and landed on rocks. According to Jakes he could feel no pulse. Andrew died on impact."
She arrived at the scene about 10 minutes later.
"We will be holding a memorial service for him at the Biker's Church in Brackenfell at 14:00 on Thursday," she said.
A third motorcyclist, also from Cape Town, died in the camping area at De Hoek on Saturday morning.
Dave Bowers, 52, from Lansdowne in Cape Town, died of a heart attack. He had previously undergone a bypass operation, said Luderick Jacoby from Nomads Motorcycle Club in Cape Town. Jacoby organised the rally.
"In not one of these instances did the men drink or drive too fast," he said.
The rally, which was first organised in the Northern Cape town of Springbok 22 years ago, has been held at Oudtshoorn for the past 14 years.