Ambulance damaged in spiking incident on N4 in Pretoria

Paramedics say an ambulance was damaged in a spiking incident on the N4 while responding to a life-threatening call out last night.

ProMed spokesperson Micheal Gough says the incident happened on the N4 near the Rosslyn off-ramp.

“The spiking plague has struck again. One of our emergency vehicles suffered serious damage while responding to a life-threatening incident on the N4. Thankfully, the paramedics escaped unharmed.”

Gough urges the public to avoid these routes, especially at night.

More and more spiking incidents are reported daily on the major roads in and around Pretoria.

While police maintain they are patrolling, community groups have taken it upon themselves to patrol these known hotspots.

The AfriForum Neighbourhood Watch in Bronkhorstspruit has been seen patrolling the N4.

According to Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Noxolo Kweza, police have deployed a SAPS Highway Patrol Unit to enhance policing and visibility on the national and provincial roads.

She says instructions have also been issued for all SAPS-marked vehicles deployed at night to conduct blue light patrols to increase visibility.

New modus operandi

Victims have reported an alarming new modus operandi targeting spiking incidents on roads in and around Pretoria.

According to the victims, criminals are now going to extremes to get motorists to stop on highways.

It is believed that armed robbers throw spikes out of their car windows while driving in front of you to force you to stop.

Last week, an incident happened in broad daylight on the Platinum N4 highway between Hartbeespoort and Pretoria.

According to a report by the Kormorant, Lize Swanepoel was on her way back from Pretoria on the highway at 10:30 when two men inside a Volkswagen Polo allegedly tried to push her off the road and threw spikes in front of her car. 

Her tyre was destroyed.

Spiking hotspots in and around Pretoria:

• The R21, between OR Tambo International Airport;
• N4 towards Pretoria, Donkerhoek area
• The R562, Olifantsfontein, N3, Leondale and Barry Marais
• N17 between Rondebult and Heidelberg Road

Motorists are advised not to stop when they suspect they have become a spiking victim, especially at night, instead should drive on slowly to the nearest garage or police station.

Previously, these areas and roads were targeted:

• The N4 to Rustenburg between R80 Mabopane Freeway and Brits Plaza tollgate
• The N4 Mpumalanga to Pretoria between Solomon Mahlangu and Watermeyer offramp
• The N4 Pretoria to Mpumalanga between Bronkhorstspruit and Balmoral offramp
• Golden Highway
• The N1 Polokwane N4 Mpumalanga interchange in Pretoria