WORK was disrupted at Rossburgh Testing Grounds when a learner driver lost control of a small truck she was driving and crushed the legs of her driving examiner.
According to a prominent KZN newspaper on Thursday, Letacia van der Merwe’s legs had to be amputated.
It was reported that the 57-year-old examinerr had allegedly told the learner driver to start the vehicle, as testing had begun.
Van der Merve’s colleagues described the scene as a sore sight, as most of them had witnessed the incident happen right before their eyes.
An examiner who asked not to be named described the horrid scene: “It was a very traumatic experience for everyone because you had other examiners, who were busy with applicants, rushing to help.
“At any one time we have about 10 cars out on the yard, and with the screams of the young woman and our colleague, it was heartbreaking to see,” he said.
He said that Van de Merwe had worked at the motor licensing department since the 1980s. The young woman who lost control behind the wheel is said to have panicked when the vehicle sprung forward as it she turned the key. It is believed that she had her foot on the accelerator and that the vehicle was in gear.
“She was asked to move the car forward, and it so happened that it was in gear, so the car jumped forward as she was turning the key, and then I think her foot was on the accelerator because it went further forward and crushed Van der Merwe, who was standing outside the vehicle, against the barrier,” said a security guard who also wished to remain anonymous. The learner driver was said to have been shocked and was shaking after the incident.
Road Traffic Inspectorate spokeswoman, Zinhle Mngomezulu, attested to the incident, but said that she was awaiting a full report from the testing station.
“The applicant was given an instruction but lost control of the truck. She then crashed into her (Van der Merwe) and injured her legs,” she said.
