Witness: VIP driver checked car, not victim

2012-11-29 09:27

Thomas Ferreira (Supplied)

 Johannesburg - The driver of a blue-light vehicle that crashed into teenager Thomas Ferreira got out after the crash to inspect damage to the car but didn’t even go to the injured boy to help him, a witness says.

This was the testimony of witness Andrew Morton in the Krugersdorp District Court where Joseph Semitjie was facing four charges relating to the accident, reported Beeld.

The accident happened a year ago and resulted in matric pupil Ferreira being knocked off his motorcycle and sustaining serious brain injuries.

Semitjie was driving Humphrey Mmemezi, the former MEC for local government and housing.

Morton said he was driving with friends and had stopped at the red traffic light when they saw the white BMW X5 slowly crawl forward despite the red light.

The car apparently nearly crashed into another car and then drove faster to cross the intersection, crashing into the motorcycle on the other side.

Motorists used their cars to block the road to stop anyone from driving into wounded boy.

“I sat with him until the fire department arrived. I could see he had serious injuries. His one leg bent in completely the wrong direction, there was blood coming from the vicinity of his mouth and his breathing was very weak.

“I saw how the accused walked around his car to see if there was damage to the vehicle…he never came closer, tried to talk to us or to find out if Thomas was hurt,” testified Morton.

Semitjie denied this version of events and claimed the teenager had driven into his car.    

- News24