VANDERBIJLPARK. – A middle-aged man was run over by a heavy truck transporting scrap metal for recycling. The incident occurred at the intersection of Vanderbijlpark (near Mittal), Vereeniging, Potchefstroom and Houtkop Road (Sonland Park), at about 12:30 on Monday.
The truck was from Houtkop Road, crossing in the direction of ArcelorMittal. The driver of the truck said that as he was crossing the intersection something lifted the left rear wheel, as if he ran over a hard object.
“As I looked in my rear-mirror I saw something that looked like a person lying in the road.” He said that he then pulled to the side of the road, to see what had happened when he was met by a corpse in the middle of the road.
He adds that he does not understand how it happened, as when he crossed the intersection, he was sure that there was no-one in or near the road. Onlookers said normally the scrap thieves hide in a farrow near the road next to traffic lights.
“Immediately when the truck with scrap is about to leave the traffic lights, they jump on. The suspects off-load the scrap until the next traffic lights where the truck makes a turn off to the scrapyard. Apparently the deceased lost control while he was holding on between two trailers towed by the truck.It looks like he fell and ended up under the four rear wheels.
Police and paramedics arrived on the scene and he was declared dead.Police said that for the past eight months, more than ten scrap thieves have been killed the same way. Investigations continue.
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