Botho Molosankwe and ANGELIQUE SERRAO
The family of a woman who was dragged for about 700m by a minibus taxi intends laying a charge of attempted murder against its driver.
Kim McCusker, 25, was knocked down at a four-way stop at the corner of Lonehill Boulevard and Concourse Crescent in Sandton yesterday morning after an argument between the driver and her fiancé, Lawrence Grobler.
McCusker, who is in a serious condition in Life Fourways Hospital last night, was conscious throughout the ordeal.
A trail of blood starting several metres from the point of impact to where the taxi was finally brought to a stop outside the Lonehill fire station bear testimony to the horror of the incident.
McCusker and Grobler were on their way to gym yesterday when a taxi driver who was allegedly driving recklessly bumped into their Corsa bakkie. Grobler then drove after him.
When the two vehicles stopped at the four-way stop at Concourse Crescent, Grobler got out of his car and approached the taxi driver.
McCusker did the same, but stood in front of the taxi.
According to witnesses, as the two men spoke, the taxi driver suddenly drove off, hitting McCusker. Desperate to stop the taxi, Grobler hit the taxi window, injuring his hand, but the driver drove on.
Grobler got back into his vehicle and chased after the taxi, hooting and trying to stop him. Other motorists who witnessed what had happened also tried to stop the taxi, but the driver continued, skipping a red light.
Bruce Weyers saw the woman being dragged under the taxi. “She was awake and had a look of trauma on her face. The freaky thing is she wasn’t making a sound.”
Weyers stopped his car and started running after the taxi, trying to get the driver to stop. “But he picked up speed and I couldn’t get near him.”
Charles Jurgens was driving along the same road when he saw cars chasing a taxi. “They managed to corner him into a side road, where he had no choice but to stop,” said Jurgens.
The taxi driver told police he had not seen the woman and did not know she was trapped underneath his vehicle.
Police spokesman Balan Muthan said the driver would be charged with reckless and negligent driving.
But the family, the Justice Project South Africa and the head of the national traffic police have called for the charge to be changed to one of attempted murder.