Taxi driver claims he didn’t know woman was caught under his vehicle
LONEHILL - It was reported that the taxi driver who allegedly knocked down and dragged a woman under his vehicle in Lonehill in 2011 appeared in Randburg Magistrates' Court on 10 April and said he did not know the woman was under the vehicle.
According to News24, the accused Matome Thamage admitted to driving recklessly and negligently as he approached a stop sign on Lonehill Boulevard as he had been driving in a right-turn lane and then decided to move into the left lane.
He reportedly said that while he had not been speeding, a vehicle in the left lane braked and Thamage scratched the vehicle.The driver then alighted from the vehicle and allegedly punched the window and throttled Thamage, then he got back into his vehicle and drove away.
Thamage then alleged he drove away and while he was aware that other drivers were flashing and hooting at him, he thought that they were friends of the man who had throttled him. He said he did not know that McCusker was under the vehicle.
He said security guards flagged him down and told him a woman was under the car. Thamage reportedly said he and the guards helped the woman out from under the vehicle. An ambulance was reportedly called and the guards allegedly apprehended him.
10 April, 12pm: According to News24, the taxi driver who is accused of knocking over and dragging a woman under the taxi on Lonehill Boulevard in 2011 is appearing in the Randburg Magistrates’ Court today [10 April].
According to reports, the driver, Matome Thamage, is accused of knocking down Kim McCusker and dragging her underneath his taxi allegedly for about 700m and leaving her badly injured and scarred.
McCusker and her then-fiance, Lourens Grobler were on their way to the gym when Thamage’s taxi almost struck the back of their car. Thamage, McCusker and Grobler were involved in a confrontation and Thamage allegedly sped off.
Thamage claimed to have been fleeing an assault by Grobler and said he did not know that McCusker was under his taxi. Thamage was arrested and charged with attempted murder and reckless or negligent driving.
