Lucky escape for local commuter

AFTER travelling between eMdloti and uMhlanga last night, a local resident made a chilling discovery – his car had been hit by a bullet.

At around 7.30pm, just before the Sibaya circle, Leon Bezuidenhout was left rattled after he heard a loud bang emanating from the driver side door. Realising that there was no serious damage to his vehicle, he kept driving until he reached a safe destination where he was able to investigate the source of the noise.

When he arrived in uMhlanga and inspected his vehicle he discovered a large ‘crater’ in the door. Something had struck his car, perpendicular to the door. There were no scratches or drag marks, he reported.

Concerned about the incident, he approached a gun expert, who confirmed that the hole was in fact, created by a bullet. According to a Facebook post uploaded by his wife, Shelley Bezuidenthout, some lead residue found on the bare metal in the hole confirmed Bezuidenhout’s suspicions.”The guy said that whoever it was was a pretty good shot if they hit a car going at 100km per hour and they were probably aiming for his window, to either kill him or make him stop. I can’t even tell you how much this freaks me out. But please be very careful and aware of your surroundings when you are driving and never, never stop on the road when something happens,” she wrote.

However, Lt Raymond Deokaran, of Durban North SAPS, believes that this was an isolated incident. He said that they were aware of the incident, but no official report had been opened at the station.

“We haven’t received any similar reports. And since it hasn’t been reported we can’t investigate. But I suspect that it was a isolated incident involving a stray bullet. Probably someone fooling around with a gun and it accidentally went off,” he said.

Deokaran urged residents to reports such incidents, including those where a vehicle has been struck by a rock or other objects. He also warned residents not to stop should they encounter such a situation.

“Keep driving until you have reached a police station,” he said.