Motorist strikes middle-aged cyclist dead

Bonte Seepi | Thursday May 4, 2017 16:18

Mahalapye police traffic officer, assistant superintendent Kgosienalerona Sechoni said the accident happened around 9am.  Sechoni said the Hilux, driven by a 37-year-old Motswana man, was from South Africa heading to Zimbabwe.

“According to our investigations, the older man was trying to cross the road on his bicycle when unfortunately the Toyota Hilux came from the other side of the road and hit him.

“When police arrived on the scene, they rushed the victim to the hospital where he was certified dead by medical doctors,” Sechoni explained.

The driver of the Toyota Hilux escaped without any injuries.

Police suspect that the motorist was speeding and thus had difficulty stopping or avoiding the cyclist.

“Many road users are still careless, but we all ought to know that we share the road. Motorists ought to be careful and drive at reasonable speed so as to be able to stop at short notice when anything or anyone crosses the road.

“Pedestrians and cyclists also ought to be careful when crossing or using roads and ensure that there is indeed no oncoming motor vehicle before crossing the road,” he said.

Police are also investigating another accident in which a middle-aged woman escaped death by a whisker after the VW Polo motor vehicle she was travelling in collided with a Toyota Corolla at Xhosa I ward in Mahalapye recently.

Sechoni said while there were no fatalities in the accident, the woman who was a passenger in the vehicle suffered serious several fractures. The woman was still admitted at Mahalapye Hospital at press time whilst both drivers escaped unhurt.

“The accident happened around 10:20 in the morning and we suspect that the Toyota Corolla driver was driving under the influence of alcohol because by the time the police arrived at the accident scene, he still looked drunk and had a beer in the car. However, investigations are still ongoing on the matter,” he said.