With either luck or fate, the guardians from above have been watching intently over those on two wheels.
Just as he had been doing for over two years, Hoërskool Bastion learner, Kelvin Harkema, strapped on his helmet and climbed onto his scooter to head off to school. In the middle of an early June cold snap, the 18-year-old Discovery resident would live through a day unlike any other as his two-wheeled treasure was shunted off the road by what appears to be an impatient minibus taxi driver.
Captured on CCTV cameras attached to a home between Rothchild Road and Elm Street, a minibus taxi rams into the rear of Kelvin, throwing the matric learner off his scooter and crashing into the tarmac of Progress Road. “The first thing that went through my mind was to make sure I didn’t fall into oncoming traffic,” said Kelvin, who does not remember anything between the impact and being on the phone to his parents while sitting alongside the busy road on Friday, 4 June.
Read initial article here: WATCH: Minibus taxi crushes small motorcycle with impatient nudge
Receiving a call that all fathers fear, Diederik and his wife, Susan rushed to the scene where they found Kelvin being assisted by friends and community members. “All kinds of emotions run through your head,” said Susan. Reassured by his son’s safety, Diederik would turn his attention to the driver of the minibus taxi, who issued an apology to the unconvinced but ultimately accepting father. “Based on what he said, I thought it was just an accident and took it for what it was,” Diederik said.
The driver of the minibus taxi’s explanation to the father was that the scooter in front of him had slowed down suddenly, leaving him no room to navigate around it, resulting in the collision. Footage of the incident contradicting the driver’s account would surface in the afternoon, sending Diederik’s rage through the roof. “Watching that, it looked clear to me that he tried to take him out,” he said.
After a frustrating experience at Florida Police Station, Diederik and Kelvin will be returning to the police station to open a case against the driver. “He needs to know what he has done was wrong. The only thing one can ask for is justice, and that is something we leave up to the courts.” The family have all the necessary paperwork, and backed by the video footage will hope for a swift resolution.
Miraculously unharmed, Kelvin has not a scratch on him and save for a few stiff muscles, is in perfect health. A contributing factor to his lucky escape was having his technical drawing board sandwiched between his back and his school bag, providing vital back support in the collision – this, as well as the extra layer of clothing under his school uniform demanded by the biting cold temperatures.
After over an hour waiting for police or Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department to attend to the scene, a brave yet shaken Kelvin went straight to school determined not to miss out on any valuable teaching time. “Thanks to everyone for all the support. From the time it happened, the phones haven’t stopped buzzing,” a grateful Kelvin said.
A custom-built, one-of-a-kind treasure may be lost, but the eager two-wheeled enthusiast is showing no fear, ready to get back in the saddle.
