Tow truckers in court for alleged theft at accident scene
Tow truck drivers Jan de Lange (38) and Jan Coetzee (47) appeared before the Nelspruit Magistrate's Court last week for allegedly stealing cash from vehicle accident victims.
De Lange and Coetzee appeared in court last Thursday on charges of theft. The pair were remanded in custody and will make their second appearance on June 7 for a bail application.
ALSO READ: WATCH: Elephant shows bakkie who’s boss in the bush
The provincial police spokesperson, Brig Leonard Hlathi, said the drivers had attended an accident on the N4 near the Sudwala turn-off, involving a taxi, truck and sedan.
Two people were declared dead on the scene of the accident, five others were critically injured and nine sustained minor to moderate injuries.
ALSO SEE: Gallery: Mbombela residents show their hail photos
“The police searched the two men and found the money. They were arrested and charged with theft,” said Hlathi.
De Lange and Coetzee were newly employed at Thompson Towing; both had been tow drivers for the company for less than a month when the incident occurred.
Thomson Towing’s owner, Tommie Thomson, told Lowvelder last week he was “shocked and disappointed” when he heard about the alleged actions of De Lange and Coetzee.
ALSO READ: Residents denied entry to White River licensing department
He said what the duo had allegedly done was “unacceptable” and that he does not want “anything to do with them”.
“Thomson Towing has worked so hard to build up a good reputation. This is not how we do business,” Thomson said.
“They were both desperate for work and so I took a chance on them, and then they do something like this. This is not how we operate. There is no excuse for what they did. I am so disappointed.”
ALSO READ: More dark deals on high-mast lights?
