Senior resident’s lost car ordeal
BRAAMFONTEIN – Metro Police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar does everything in his power to find a senior resident's missing car.
Melville resident Alfredo Lamberti (83) was involved in a car accident on 31 October, on the corner of Enoch Sontonga Avenue and Joubert Street, in Braamfontein. Lamberti collided into the back of another vehicle at about 9.15am. After being picked up in an ambulance, he had no idea what happened to his car.
“I have no idea how the accident happened. The ambulance must have been nearby, because before I could do anything, I was on my way to the Netcare Milpark Hospital,” said Lamberti. According to him, he wanted to phone the AA for roadside assistance, and to let them know that his car should be picked up and loaded onto a truck, because it cannot be towed. However, Lamberti was too disorientated to make the call.
His car, a grey 2006 Hyundai Atos, went missing. According to AA spokesperson Layton Beard, the AA cannot pick up a car without the owner’s consent. “There has to be someone who can sign and tell us where to take the car,” said Beard.
Metro Police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wayne Minnaar, said that cars that have been abandoned or have not been towed, could be taken to the Metro Police depot. He confirmed that they did not have Lamberti’s car at the depot.
Three days passed without Lamberti knowing where the car was. He said that it was frustrating because he could not walk because of his injuries. Instead he had to arrange for lifts to fetch food from the shops, and for someone to take him to hospital to dress his wounds.
Chief Supt Minnaar eventually found that Lambarti’s car was towed by Help 24 and taken to Banfield Road, Industria. Lamberti said that unfortunately, his car was written off.
“It is frustrating now that my car is written off. I need to gather money to buy a second-hand car,” he lamented, before adding that he was impressed with the ambulance and hospital services.
