Metro cop knocked over at M4 accident scene

A 35-YEAR-OLD Metro Police officer was seriously injured after being hit at an accident scene near uMhlanga Rocks last night. The officer was directing traffic at an accident scene on the M4 when a motorist drove onto the site, which had been closed off.

“Authorities had closed off the scene and were tending to the injured motorists of the initial accident when the vehicle failed to yield and smashed into the Metro officer, dragged him for a few metres before crashing into a tow truck,” said Kyle van Reenen of Crisis Medical. The Metro police officer sustained head injuries as well as suspected spinal injuries. He was stabilised on scene and transported to a nearby hospital. The driver of the alleged speeding vehicle suffered minor injuries, confirmed Van Reenen.

The initial accident was caused by a rear-end incident. According to Van Reenen, eye witnesses alleged that one vehicle, travelling at an excessive speed, crashed into the back of the second vehicle. The motorists whose car was rear-ended was ejected from his vehicle. He sustained serious spinal injuries, while the other motorist was moderately injured.

Van Reenen added that this was the fourth incident in the last month where a person had been knocked at an in accident scene in Durban. “In another incident a motorist survived a fender bender only to be killed after he was knocked over by a passing vehicle. It is no longer safe at an accident scene,”he said.

The roadway remained closed while emergency workers attended to the scene.The facts surrounding both incidents are currently under investigation by local authorities.