AN off-duty SAPS police officer who was involved in two accidents on Friday night (20 February) was arrested for drunk driving.
The man, allegedly a constable from a local station, was involved in two incidents that night.
According to an eyewitness, who wanted to remain anonymous, the intoxicated officer first forced another driver off the road before smashing into a local resident’s vehicle on the corner of Old Mill Way and Adelaide Thambo Drive, about a kilometre away from the initial accident.
“The driver, who was forced off the road, called for police assistance. When Metro Police stopped the errant driver he denied forcing anyone off the road. He then drove through the cordon and crashed into a car on the corner of Old Mill Way and Adelaide Thambo Drive.
“The intoxicated officer was detained by Metro Police and was charged with reckless and negligent driving and drunk driving.
“He was taken to the Durban North SAPS station. The man also had a verbal altercation with the officers when they attempted to cuff him,” the resident said.
It’s believed the passenger, also allegedly a police officer, tried to prevent the driver from being arrested.
Crisis Medical’s Neil Powell confirmed the two incidents.
“It was an off-duty police officer who was arrested. No one was injured in the accidents,” Powell said.
Provincial SAPS spokesman, Colonel Jay Naicker, confirmed a 30-year-old suspect was arrested for driving under the influence
“He appeared at Durban Magistrates’ Court on 23 February and his court appearance results are unknown at this stage. His occupation is not indicated in our records at this stage,” Naicker said.
