Car overturned at faulty traffic light
Residents of Bela-Bela predicted both the serious accidents that occurred this past weekend. The intersection on the R101 was pointed out as a deathtrap and the notorious faulty traffic light at the intersection of Chris Hani Drive and Kretschmar Avenue has been reported as dangerous on numerous occasions.
Friday, 3 May 2024 appeared to be a bad day for motorists in Bela-Bela. Residents were shocked to see that their unattended warning to the town council and the traffic department culminated in a serious accident when two vehicles collided just after 17:00 and one of the vehicles subsequently overturned.
The driver of the overturned vehicle sustained injuries and was treated on the scene by emergency medical officers.
Colonel Annemarie Smith of the Bela-Bela Police Service (SAPS) has confirmed that an accident report was opened for the incident. According to the police report, the driver of the overturned vehicle stated that she had right of way through the intersection when the other vehicle drove straight through the intersection without stopping. The impact was so big that her car overturned.
In the police report, it was stated that the driver of the other car, an Ethiopian citizen, said that he suffered from a dizzy spell at the time of the accident.
The accident caused huge spectator value and both streets were temporarily closed.
The law states that any dysfunctional or faulty traffic light at an intersection like this should be treated as a four-way stop by motorists, but incidents where motorists blatantly ignore this particular traffic light are a common occurrence.
