Passenger, 75, dies in crash en route to funeral
Pini Bothoko | Wednesday August 5, 2026 06:00
The deceased was a passenger in a Toyota Vitz that was hit from behind by a Ford Mustang allegedly driven by an 18-year-old man.
No.3 District Traffic Officer, Superintendent Dan Moshebashebi said they received a report of the fatal accident at around 5:30am.
He explained that following the impact, the driver of the Toyota Vitz lost control of the vehicle, causing it to veer off the road and fall into a trench.
'The 75-year-old female passenger died at the scene, whilst the remaining three occupants of the Toyota Vitz sustained serious injuries,' Moshebashebi said.
He explained that the injured include the female driver and two female passengers, who are currently admitted at Princess Marina Hospital and receiving treatment.
Meanwhile, the three occupants of the Ford Mustang, two males and one female, escaped with minor injuries. 'The young occupants were treated for their injuries and discharged from hospital the same morning,' Moshebashebi added.
According to the police chief, both vehicles were travelling in the same direction, towards the north, when the collision occurred.
He said investigators are yet to determine what caused the accident.
'The Ford Mustang hit the Toyota Vitz from behind. At this stage, we do not know whether the young driver was speeding and failed to control the vehicle or what exactly transpired. Investigations are ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the accident,' he said.
Police have urged motorists to exercise caution on the roads, maintain a safe following distance and observe speed limits to help prevent avoidable crashes.