Man dies after train crash
2004-12-30 23:02
Mossel Bay - A resident died after a car driven by his girlfriend collided with a train full of holidaymakers at a local level crossing.
Rudolph Germishuys,, 43, was injured on Wednesday in the collision at Diaz Beach and was taken to the George provincial hospital in serious condition.
He died during the night, apparently as a result of serious head injuries.
Germishuys was a passenger in the car driven by his girlfriend, Lucretia Strydom, 35.
It is believed they were on their way from Diaz Beach to town when the car was hit by the Santos Express Metro.
The tourist train does not run all year round and only transports commuters between Hartenbos and Mossel Bay during the December holidays.
According to witnesses a number of vehicles were waiting for the traffic light to change before moving into Louis Fourie Drive.
It is alleged that Strydom tried to pass the line of vehicles on the wrong side of the road when the car collided with the train.
The impact squashed the side of the car into the passenger seat, pinning down Germishuys.
According to Strydom her children were on the other side of the railway line and she was in a hurry to reach them.
"I never even saw the train," she said afterwards.
The train driver, Jan Diederick Beneke of Ruitersbos, said the train was already into the crossing when the car crossed the railway line.
"The brakes had already been released and it took some time to bring the train to a standstill," he said.
Emergency personnel were on the scene within minutes and immediately stabilised the seriously injured Germishuys before removing him from the wreck.
The jaws-of-life had to be used to free Germishuys from the wreck and it took almost an hour before he could be moved to an ambulance.
Strydom escaped with minor scratches.
Witnesses were surprised that Strydom failed to seen or hear the approaching train.
The specific level crossing is in the open and motorists can see an approaching train at a distance.
The train driver must also sound a whistle before entering the crossing.