Estcourt traffic cops suspend ‘coffin on wheels’

With an assortment of faults and damages, a delivery truck has been suspended after local protection service officers intercepted what has been labelled as  ‘an accident waiting to happen’.

The truck was making a delivery in Harding Street this morning (April 20) when the officers inspected it. What they found was a range of defects, which renders the vehicle unroadworthy.

Speaking to the Estcourt News, at the licensing and testing station in Loskop Road where the truck is now kept, senior manager in the Protection Service Department Dumisani Zuma walked around the vehicle, pointing out the faults.

Accident waiting to happen

These included a damaged gear arm, a loose fifth wheel which is used to secure both the trailers, cracks and makeshift repairs to the chassis as well as several bald and damaged tyres.

“This truck has 26 tyres, 16 of these tyres are defective. One of the tyres burst as the truck was being brought to the station. The trailers are not secure, if it becomes separate, someone on the road would be dead. This truck is an accident waiting to happen. When I spoke to the driver, I told him you are in a coffin on wheels. We see this on public roads every day and it is terrible,” said Zuma.

The truck despite its many flaws was undetected as it travelled from Newcastle to Estcourt. “We have suspended the truck.

The owner will be required to fix the faults in the yard and if he is unable to do so, the truck will be removed with a breakdown,” added Zuma.  

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