A firefighter died and several people were injured after a multiple vehicle collision on the N1 south near New Road in Midrand at 5am on 5 June.
According to Netcare 911’s Athlenda Mathe, Tebogo Thobodi, was attending to a patient on-scene when he was struck by another vehicle. He was an employee of the City of Johannesburg’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS),
Mathe said, “When Netcare 911 paramedics arrived on the scene, they found the paramedic trapped under a tow truck. A VW Polo, an ambulance and another vehicle were on the scene. He was declared dead on the scene… Netcare 911 treated and transported two critically injured patients from the scene to a nearby hospital for further medical care.”
The rest of the injured patients were transported to hospitals by various emergency services.
Metro police’s Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar revealed that a female driver in a white VW Polo drove into a stationary tow truck and the paramedic. “A charge of culpable homicide and reckless driving will be investigated against the female driver,” he said.
In a statement, the City of Johannesburg Emergency Management Services’ spokesperson, Robert Mulaudzi said EMS is mourning the loss of their colleague who was based at Lonehill Fire Station. The statement read, “… Tebogo Thobodi selflessly invested 12 years of his dedication to medical, fire and rescue experience to the City and its citizens. Firefighters/EMTs dedicate their lives to the protection of life and property. Sometimes that dedication is in the form of countless hours volunteered over many years, in others, it is selfless years working in the industry and, in some cases [they pay] the ultimate [price].”
Mulaudzi added that Thobodi will be missed by his family and colleague.
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