Teeth jarring road trench surprise
A lack of reflective warning signs blamed for the accident
EMPANGENI residents living in Louis Botha Road were at the weekend left baffled and concerned for motorists’ safety after a trench the width of the road was dug on Friday and left open without any reflective signs to warn motorists.
According to one resident, the work started at about 7am on Friday.
By the end of the day, the workers vacated the site at the intersection of Louis Botha and Grysbok avenues, leaving the approximately metre-deep trench uncovered with mounds of sand on both sides of the hole and nothing but a flimsy single strip of red and white danger tape across the road.
While this danger tape would serve as a warning measure during the day, there were no chevron boards or other reflective signs to alert motorists driving on that stretch of road after dark.
At about 9.30pm the first motorist was taken by surprise, hitting the pile of sand and beaching his car on top.
Damage to the Ford Bantam reportedly included wheel alignment, a broken front scoop and number plate, and a cracked headlight.
Shortly after 2am on Saturday a single cab bakkie hit the mound of sand and it is thought the vehicle became airborne and crash-landed on the other side of the trench.
According to Cheryl Whittaker, who heard the impact, the driver was not speeding.
‘The bakkie’s passenger suffered injuries, including cuts, bruises and broken teeth,’ said Steven Whittaker, who arrived on the scene shortly after the incident occurred.
He said the vehicle had been damaged badly and appeared written off.
uMhlathuze Fire and Rescue arranged for an ambulance and traffic police to attend, and SAPS officers also arrived.
The injured passenger was taken to hospital.
‘I remained at the spot for about two hours and in that time flagged down many motorists who would otherwise have suffered the same experience,’ said Whittaker.
City of uMhlathuze spokesperson Mdu Ncalane agreed to look into the matter and determine why no appropriate safety measures had been taken.
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