Hijacked taxi involved in a hit-and-run collision

The taxi in which four pedestrians were injured in a hit-and-run collision on the corner of Pretoria Avenue and Bram Fischer Drive in Ferndale, was allegedly hijacked at Brightwater Commons.

The hijacked taxi was then used as a getaway vehicle when a customer was robbed at the Alvee Super Market in Rabie Avenue in Fontainebleau before they ploughed into four pedestrians in a hit-and-run collision.

According to the Linden police spokesperson Captain Walter Spencer, a cash till and a customer’s cell phone was taken during the robbery at the store.

“A case of business robbery is opened at Linden. The suspects jumped into the taxi and the customer then followed. The customer managed to punch out the right back window before jumping into a private car and giving chase,” said Spencer.

He said the customer took the taxi’s registration number and stopped pursuing them (suspects) in Ferndale area.

At this stage, the taxi kept driving at a high speed and hit pedestrians on the corner Pretoria Avenue and Bram Fischer Drive.

“The women were critical and taken to hospital. A case of hit-and-run was opened at Randburg Police Station,” Spencer said.

He further explained that no one was arrested as the suspects fled the scene. “The taxi was recovered and taken to Randburg Police Station. The driver of the taxi opened a hijacking case at the Linden Police Station,” he said.

The driver of the taxi was allegedly hijacked at 5:30pm at Bright Water Commons on Republic Road and driven to Midrand where he was dropped off by the hijackers. “The serious and violent task team at a cluster, Diepsloot station is investigating the cases,” he concluded.

An ER24 paramedic came across the collision moments after it occurred and immediately stopped to provide assistance and called for resources at about 5:40pm.

“Upon assessment, she found that two women and two men were hit by a taxi. Bystanders explained that the taxi sped off immediately after colliding with them,” said ER24 spokesperson Werner Vermaak.

One of the female pedestrians sustained a critical head injury and numerous fractures. She was later airlifted to Charlotte Maxeke Hospital for further care. Another female pedestrian, about eight months pregnant, was left in a serious condition. She was treated on the scene for various injuries along with the other two men and all were stabilised and transported to Helen Joseph Hospital.

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