A HIGH speed chase ensued after a man hijacked a police vehicle on the N3 highway at around 2pm on Monday, May 15. The pursuit, which continued from the highway into the suburb of Florentia, Alberton, came to an end when the suspect crashed the vehicle into a wall in Jan Coetzee Street.
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ER24 paramedics responded to the scene and found the suspect lying in the driver’s seat of the SAPS vehicle with a bullet wound to the head.
He was treated for his injuries and provided with advanced life support before being transported to a nearby hospital under police guard.
According to the police, the incident unfolded while Sergeant Margaret Mmbi was travelling on the N12, in an official OR Tambo International Airport SAPS vehicle, from Lenasia to OR Tambo International.
She saw two men fighting next to the highway and when they started to move onto the freeway Mmbi decided to stop and confront them.
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As she stopped, one of the men approached her and pulled her out of the vehicle.
They struggled and the suspect tried to push the police officer in front of oncoming traffic but she managed to pull herself free from his grip.
The suspect then got into the marked police vehicle and drove off. The police were notified about the incident and several units pursued the stolen police vehicle.
A member of the public stopped to assist the female officer, who was traumatised. After being taken to the Alberton SAPS, she was taken to Netcare Union Hospital for treatment.
According to the police, the suspect is still in a critical condition.
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Alberton SAPS spokesperson Captain Manare Ramotshela was not able to confirm what had happened to the other man involved in the altercation next to the highway.
Members of the SAPS flying squad and K9 units as well as Ekurhuleni Metro Police, paramedics, Fox Security medical unit, CPS security, SOG Security and ER24 were on the scene of the crash in Florentia.
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