Car crash teen’s mom blames Impala marathon

KIBLER PARK – “JMPD and race organisers should do a lot more to combat the problems on Impala Road,” said the mother of a 19-year-old girl who was involved in a collision on March 30.

Mrs Whittaker was responding to Councillor Paul Smit’s plea to motorists who blatantly disregard the speed limit law of 60km/h on Impala Road in Kibler Park and overtake on barrier lines.

Councillor Paul Smit stated that the community needed to start “sticking to the law” and refrain from negligent driving tactics. He is committed to requesting JMPD to start speed trapping again on Impala Road and Kliprivier Drive.

Although Mrs Whittaker does not dispute Clr Smits’s statements, she has however slammed the organisers of the 69th Jackie Gibson Marathon, which took place on March 30. She attributes the minor injuries sustained by her daughter during the accident to sensible driving.

The marathon started at 06:00 and was scheduled to finish at 17:00 from Rietvlei Zoo Farm to Swartkoppies Road between Alberton and Mulbarton.

“My daughter was involved in an accident because of a marathon being held on Impala Road. Thankfully she was not driving fast and got out fine. These narrow roads should be closed completely when an event is held. You cannot expect runners and two-way traffic to operate on a road that is so narrow,” said Mrs Whittaker.

“My daughter panicked and lost control of her car because of cones in the road that were scattered. It confused her about which side of the cones she should be. The race was apparently finished, so why not remove the cones promptly? The JMPD were busy removing the cones and were there to assist her.”

The teenager is reportedly doing well, but is still suffering from whiplash and has pain in her neck. Mrs Whittaker explained that when the accident occurred, 19-year-old Taylor was on her way home from Glenvista.

“As she got to the spot where her accident was, she says she had a fright when she saw the cones in the road which were displaced. She panicked and swerved to miss them and ended up where she did. Thankfully she was not driving fast, otherwise I am sure the outcome could have been worse. So many people who we know and have spoken to since her accident have commented about the chaos on the road that day. That road is extremely narrow, and to have one lane half coned-off and expect two-way traffic and runners to be on the road is looking for trouble. Surely for safety they should have closed the road for the duration on the marathon,” added Mrs Whittaker.

The family is grateful that Taylor is recovering and the accident wasn’t fatal, saying “a car can be replaced but not my child.”