WATCH: Elderly lady and toddler run over in Free State hit-and-run
The owner and driver of the car have since been arrested, and will appear in court on 30 January. WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT. Viewer discretion is advised for sensitive viewers.
A screenshot capturing the moments before a car crashed into an elderly lady and a child on her back. Image: Twitter/@Abramjee
Disturbing footage of a hit-and-run in the Free State town of Ventersburg has been trending all weekend. The police have confirmed that two suspects, a man and a woman, were arrested in connection with the incident.
eNCA reported on Sunday that a case of reckless and negligent driving was being investigated after the driver crashed into the woman carrying a child on her back.
The owner of the vehicle reportedly handed himself in to police and both suspects will appear in court again this week on Thursday after being released on bail.
In the clip, the car can be seen making an abrupt turn as the elderly lady walks towards the road. The car hits the lady, who falls forward onto the car’s bonnet and is trapped against a wall. She appears to take the full impact, while the child is lurched forward.
After the incident, two people can be seen getting out of the car, while the driver rushes to pull the handbrake up. People on the road stare at the scene in disbelief, as the driver then assesses the damage to his car, without looking at the elderly woman and child writhing on the ground.
Passers-by eventually helped the toddler while others tried to get a look at the driver and any possible passengers. They then drive away without offering assistance to the victims.
This hit and run took place in Ventersburg, Free State. Hope the driver is brought to book. ⚠️ WARNING: Graphic. @MbalulaFikile @TrafficRTMC @fsgov pic.twitter.com/Wz2Xezc1wx
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) January 26, 2020
Free State SAPS spokesperson Sam Makhele told eNCA the owner was a 45-year-old man and the woman was 19.
Further reports have indicated that the elderly woman and the toddler were rushed to a hospital in Katlehong. Makhele said the last update police received was that the elderly woman had since been transferred to another hospital, but that to their knowledge, she was still alive.
Updates to follow as more information is made available.
(Compiled by Nica Schreuder)
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