Head-on crash survivor’s freak highway death fall

A MAN plummeted to his death minutes after escaping a near fatal car accident on the N2 just before the Empangeni off-ramp last week.

After surviving the head-on collision, the man had reportedly apologised to the occupants of the other vehicle and acknowledged that it was his fault before ‘disappearing’.

According to uMhlathuze City Fire and Rescue’s Divisional Officer: Operations, Wilson Xulu, after the collison the man’s red bakkie came to rest against the safety rail with the back of his vehicle hanging over the edge of a four metre drop to a farm road running below the highway.

‘The only explanation is that when the driver returned to his vehicle, he obviously did not notice the edge of the drop in the dark and was later found at the bottom with a broken neck,’ Xulu said.

The fire officer, who by chance was two minutes away from the accident, said nobody was seriously injured in the collision.

‘The red bakkie travelling towards Empangeni lost control and ploughed into the oncoming traffic, hitting another bakkie,’ said Xulu.

The driver of the red bakkie managed to exit his vehicle and spoke briefly to Xulu.

‘He realised it was his fault and apologised to the other occupants. I called the SAPS and the ambulance services and the driver made a phone call while walking towards the back of his vehicle.’

It was at this point the driver disappeared from view.

‘The two occupants of the other vehicle believed the man was trying to flee the scene and we all ran to the bakkie and thankfully I got there first.’

Xulu had been wearing his headlamp as a safety precaution.

‘This is what saved not only my life, but the other two occupants as well.’