A high speed police chase through the Durban central business district came to a abrupt halt when the fleeing vehicle slammed into a SUV in the intersection of Goble and Umgeni Roads this morning.
It is alleged that the driver of a Silver Opel Corsa bakkie had been involved in an accident near the city centre and had fled the scene, eThekwini Metro Police hot in his heels. With flagrant disregard for himself and his 19-year-old female passenger, he pushed through traffic signal controlled junctions at speed with police officers giving chase.
The bakkie entered the intersection of Goble and Umgeni Roads and ploughed into an Audi Q7. The crumpled wreckage of the bakkie skidded to a halt in the roadway. The woman sustained massive head and spinal trauma and was killed on impact. The driver was critically injured having sustained polytraumatic injuries and had to be cut from the twisted frame by Netcare911 Paramedics and eThekwini Metro firefighters.
The SUV had come to rest several metres away from the point of impact. Its driver and passenger, who had sustained minor injuries, were treated and stabilised at the scene by paramedics before being transported by ambulance for further emergency medical care.
The incident is being investigated by police.
Jeff Wicks
Netcare911 – KwaZulu-Natal Media
