The Arrive Alive website received this interesting request for assistance:
“Dear Sir, Madam
My wife and kids was involved in a hit and run situtaion on Saturday the 31st October 2009 at around 13h25, near the Rivonia Road off ramp heading north by a BMW. Please advise if you can assist us with footage of the accident in order to make contact with the driver/owner of the BMW. We are aware of the cramera that are installed on the highway and will appreciate you retriving this footage.
Our vehicle is a Red VW Jetta with the Reg No XYK..8GP. Your assistance in this matter will greatly be appreciated.
Kind Regards”
We informed the visitor that he needs to open a case at the SA Police, get a case number and then take this further with SANRAL. We were also fortunate to be provided with experts assistance by the SAPS on this matter.
The SAPS provided the following response:
Dear Sir
I’m sorry to hear about your wife and children being a victim of a Road Crime Crash.
It certainly isn’t a pleasant experience.
In such an instance, a CAS Docket (Crime Administration System), should also be registered.
Your wife will need to make a sworn affidavit at the police station in whose area the crash occurred. This should be done during office-hours to a detective.
There is no criminal charge of ‘Hit and Run’, however the applicable charges in term of the National Road Traffic Act are invariably the following:
Reckless or Negligent Driving,
Inconsiderate Driving,
Disregard red traffic light (if applicable),
Failing to stop after accident,
Failing to ascertain nature and extent of injuries,
Failing to ascertain nature and extent of damages,
Failing to exchange particulars, etc.
Once a CAS Docket is registered, the detective should request SANRAL to view any video-footage.
SANRAL invariably has a policy/ standard operating procedure in place regarding the viewing of video-footage.
An Accident Report (AR) number is not considered sufficient.
If you encounter any challenges with police officials, please contact me. You can show them this e-mail.
Kind regards,
Robert S. Askew SUPERINTENDENT
SECTION COMMANDER: ACCIDENT COMBATING SERVICES*
SECTION: EMERGENCY RESPONSE SERVICES
COMPONENT: POLICE EMERGENCY SERVICES
DIVISION VISIBLE POLICING
SAPS HEAD OFFICE, PRETORIA
TEL: (012) 421-8252/ (082) 779-8650