Grieving father wants answers

A GRIEVING father wants action taken against the driver of the vehicle responsible for his son’s death.

According to Luke Boucher, his son Jason, (22), and his best friend were walking to Musgrave along John Zikhali (Sydenham) Road on 11 May when they were knocked over and killed when the driver of a vehicle travelling down John Zikhali Road lost control of the car. Boucher said police never took a statement from the driver of the car.

“Witnesses have told us that a car driving down the road went across the road, hit a wall, spun a few times and hit the men, knocking Jason into a tree and JP onto the road, before going back onto the road and hitting another three cars,” said Boucher.

He said the driver of the car was slightly injured and had got into an ambulance. This was the last time he was seen.

“I thought the fact two boys were killed might encourage the police to do something, but no alcohol test was done on the driver. He was taken away before a test could be done or a statement taken. The girl in the car with him also disappeared. No one has followed up on this. It is disappointing to me, I can’t leave it and accept it, I can’t let my child die and do nothing, it would be wrong,” he said.

Luke said he had heard nothing more from Berea SAPS and that he had approached the investigating detective for information.

“The detective had the man’s name and address, but nothing more. He said he had gone to the address, but the man’s grandmother said he hadn’t lived there in three years. The car was traced to a company and the employee whose car it was said the driver had been at his flat the night before and must’ve taken his car the next morning. He had reported his car stolen the next night. The detective knows where the driver works, but apparently he is off on sick leave,” said Luke.

Boucher said he just wanted some feedback from the Berea SAPS as to why a statement wasn’t taken from the man who was allowed to get away.

“I’m going to lay a complaint at province,” he said.

Lt PN Naidoo from Berea SAPS said: “The driver was injured and the paramedic put up a drip for him and took him to Addington Hospital. No one at the scene said he was drunk. Metro attended first.”

Naidoo said a docket of culpable homicide was opened by the attending officer and one witness statement was taken.