West Rand crash leaves one dead, two critical

A high speed collision left one person dead and two others in a critical condition after a BMW and a taxi collided head on on Hendrik Potgieter Road in Ruimsig early on Sunday.

According to ER24 spokesperson Werner Vermaak, “Paramedics from ER24 and other services arrived on Hendrik Potgieter Road near Van Staden intersection around 6am where they found the taxi lying partially on the roof of the BMW. Both vehicles had severe damage. Upon further assessment they [paramedics] found that the driver of the taxi sustained fatal injuries. He was declared dead on the scene.

“A passenger next to the driver in the taxi had to be freed using several rescue tools. The Johannesburg Fire Department and ER24 Rescue crew assisted in freeing the man from the taxi. He sustained multiple injuries and was in a critical condition.

“The driver of the BMW was also found with critical injuries. He had to be extricated from the vehicle before he could be transported to hospital.

“A bystander explained to paramedics that a passenger from the BMW allegedly absconded (leave hurriedly and secretly, typically to escape from custody or avoid arrest) from the scene prior to paramedics’ arrival.

“Hendrik Potgieter was closed for several hours this morning near Van Staden Road while emergency services attended the incident. The Johannesburg Metro Police attended the incident and will conduct an investigation to determine the exact cause of the incident.

“The injured were transported to nearby hospitals in the area for further medical management.”