Drunk driver kills Joburg metro cop

2016-05-22 16:21

News24 Correspondent

Johannesburg - A drunk driver slammed into a Johannesburg metro police officer on the N1, killing him, a spokesperson said on Sunday.

He died in hospital shortly before 04:00 on Sunday, Superintendent Edna Mamonyane said.

"We are in a cloud of sadness."

The officer had stopped a car for a traffic violation at the Buccleuch interchange on the N1 North on Saturday night.

“The officer went to open his boot to take out his file. A drunk driver came and slammed into the officer from behind, sandwiching the officer between his patrol car and the drunk driver’s Mercedes-Benz.”

The officer was airlifted to Milpark Hospital, where he died. He was 38 and married with two children.

The drunk driver called two women to the scene, while he was taken to hospital for blood alcohol tests. 

While metro police were busy at the scene, the two women arrived.

“They began removing evidence from the drunk driver’s car like alcohol.”

They were immediately arrested for defeating the ends of justice.

The driver would face charges of culpable homicide, reckless or negligent driving, and drinking and driving.

“We know as law enforcers that when we leave home to go to work we are never guaranteed that we will go back home. It becomes very sad when we are now one less,” Mamonyane said.

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