THE local biking community has had a particularly tragic week, with two serious accidents claiming one life and leaving two riders fighting for their lives in hospital.
On Sunday policeman Riaan Kloppers and his passenger Yolandé Bester were seriously injured in a collision on the N2 near KwaMbonambi, and on Tuesday evening Carel Duvenage lost his life after a crash on the John Ross Highway.
Duvenage (37) crashed into a truck while travelling on the John Ross Parkway at around 7pm. The biking community poured out their condolences for the father of two daughters, who was a popular member of the No Rules MCC bike club based in Richards Bay.
The accident occurred in the vicinity of the sinkhole traffic diversion, and debris from his beloved Kawasaki ZX10 R Ninja was scattered for hundreds of metres across the road. Paramedics arrived on scene and stabilised Duvenage before transporting him to Netcare The Bay Hospital, but he died while being airlifted from Richard Bay to Durban.
Richards Bay SAPS Communications Officer, Captain Debbie Ferreira, confirmed that a case of culpable homicide has been opened and they are investigating events leading to the cause of the accident.
A witness told the Zululand Observer that they had seen Duvenage receiving first aid treatment on the road, and that
visually his injuries did not appear serious – in contrast with the mangled wreckage of the bike.
‘As I drove past he appeared to be stable, and I was relieved – saying to my passenger how lucky he was to have survived. ‘I was shocked and saddened to hear that he had not.’
Double tragedy
In the N2 accident at KwaMbonambi on Sunday, Kloppers and Bester – ironically also riding a Kawasaki Ninja- were critically injured when, according to eyewitnesses, a car reportedly T-boned them ‘after failing to stop at a stop street’.
They were treated on the scene by paramedics and transferred to hospital – Riaan to Netcare The Bay Hospital
and Yolandé to Ngwelezana Hospital.
There both remain in a critical condition, having sustained broken bones and multiple fractures.
They rode for Megaforce MC Richards Bay.
ALSO READ: John Ross Parkway sinkhole progres report
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