I was at the accident scene when the man was hit on Mouton Road this morning, and I contacted the Netcare ambulance. My young daughter was with me and we truly are saddened to hear that the man had passed away.
I came across the accident seconds after the man was hit, as the taxi came to a stop. It was a heart-stopping moment as the victim was lying in the middle of Mouton Road with cars missing him by centimetres until we could block off the road.
Immediately following the accident I thought he already had passed away. However, he gained consciousness about seven minutes after the accident but was extremely confused and unable to speak – a sure sign of a head injury.
Initially I thought the taxi driver had run off – but he actually went to the Engen garage to ask them to phone the police. He returned to the scene and by 09:30 he still was with the police on Mouton Road.
It is a well-known fact that taxis speed down Mouton Road and there are numerous accidents on this road, although I am not sure how fast this taxi was going. I must be honest that the taxi driver owned up to the situation, giving statements and showing concern and genuine remorse for what happened. In my opinion this poor man’s death was a very unfortunate accident.
