A TECHNICAL investigation into the Field’s Hill accident in September last year has revealed that poor maintenance and the driver’s ignorance was the direct cause of the accident.
This emerged at a press conference addressed by the technical investigator, Tommy Rootman.
May appearanced in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court where his case was postponed to Tuesday 27 May and will be heard at the Durban High Court.
According to Rootman the truck that May was driving was not roadworthy.
Rootman shared the report that was initially done for Theasen Pillay, the attorney for Sagekal Logistics, the company that owns the truck and refuted media reports about the truck being roadworthy.
According to the report, overwhelming evidence, indicating that the brake systems of both the horse and trailer were in a state of deterioration prior to and at the time of the accident on 5 September 2013, was found.
Due to the condition of the brake systems the driver would not have been able to sufficiently slow down the combination vehicle by selecting a lower, appropriate gear for driving down a steep descent.
From the tracker print out, Rootman concluded that the driver operated the vehicle at a speed well within the speed limits up until approximately 1.2 km before the collision.
The reported speed of the vehicle increased from 60 km/h to 96 km/h during the last approximately 1.2km up until the point of impact.
The report indicates that something went wrong with the speed controlling of the vehicle over the last 1.2 km to the point of impact.
The investigation also revealed that with the brake systems of both the horse and trailer in their current state, it would not be possible for any driver to have executed proper, if any control over the vehicle speed for purpose of selecting a lower gear or to stop and / or hold the vehicle.
It is however, clear that no sudden, unforeseen failure of the brake systems had occurred shortly before the collision and according to Rootman, the driver must have been aware of a problem with the brakes long before the collision.
May’s lawyer, Professor Mdletshe said they will proceed as normal, preparing for this case as it is up to the Director of Public Prosecutor to decide whether there will be a trial.
Spokesman for the support group, Peach, said they want justice to be done.
“Someone must be held accountable for this tragedy. We understand that lots of lives were lost and we also support the families of the deceased. We will continue to support May through his darkness.
“We are not only fighting for May but we want something to be done about trucks using Field’s Hill and make it a safe place,” she said.
“To this day Sagekal Logistics never paid for my services as they did not agree with the report,” said Rootman.
