A TAXI driver who was involved in a horrific accident, which claimed the lives of four people on the M19 in 2016, was sentenced to seven years imprisonment for culpable homicide.
Three people, including a two-year-old toddler, died at the scene while the fourth (Imran Khan) died in hospital, 10 days after incident.
Imran Khan (33), brother-in-law Shafeek Sheik, his son Uzair (2) and Shafeek’s wife’s aunt, Zenef Khan died after a taxi and an SUV collided head-on the M19 west bound near the Dunkeld Road off-ramp.
Imran’s younger sibling, Muhammad Khan, said his brother was returning from Gateway Shopping Centre to their home in Westville at about 10pm when tragedy struck.
“The taxi was on the wrong side of the road from Pinetown.”
Muhammad, who was 20 years at the time, said he recalls that morning clearly.
“We rushed to hospital in the early hours as we received a call at 3am informing us of the accident.
“My brother was among the survivors, but unfortunately passed away at Chief Albert Luthuli Hospital after being transferred from King Edward.”
He said this accident traumatised the families.
“My brother and I had a close relationship, we were more like best friends.
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“Imran turned 33 two days before he passed away.”
Muhammad said the other four survivors were also critically injured but have recovered although some of them are still not a 100 per cent healed.
“They are still suffering post-traumatic stress disorder and other physical injuries. The taxi had one passenger who was pregnant and the pregnancy had to be terminated,” said Muhammad.
After waiting for a period of three years, Muhammad said he is relieved and grateful that justice has prevailed.
“Some may feel like seven years is a short time and we are happy with the court’s decision and the work done by the Sydenham police, especially the investigating officer, Det Coran Lowe. It is because of his hard work that the man was sentenced,” he said.
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