Billy Claasen, of the Rural and Farmworkers Development Organisation, visited the accident scene in Tulbagh on Monday. Picture: Supplied
Cape Town - A fruit truck driver is expected to appear in court this week in connection with the deaths of four people he crashed into on Monday morning in Tulbagh.
Police spokesperson, Malcolm Pojie, confirmed they are investigating a case of culpable homicide.
“Tulbagh SAPS opened a culpable homicide docket for further investigation following an incident at about 10am on Monday, 13 January on Drostdy Road, Tulbagh.
“According to witness accounts, the four involved in the accident were walking towards town from the farm Vooruitsig in Tulbagh, when a truck, which was transporting plums, lost its freight at high speed at a bend on the road.
“It is believed that the crates with plums hit the four who were walking on the side of the road. As a result, two women aged 58 and 25, succumbed to injuries sustained while an 8-year-old daughter died in hospital later.
“The nine-month-old baby boy was transferred to Tygerberg Hospital for medical treatment on Monday,” said Pojie. According to information, the baby has since passed away at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital.
Billy Claasen, of the Rural and Farmworkers Development Organisation, said: “We mourn the tragic death of three farm dwellers near Tulbagh in the early hours of Monday morning. It is alleged that 58-year-old Elsabe Bezuidenhout, her 25-year-old daughter, Ingrid Marthinus, and Ingrid’s children – eight-year-old Jesnice and nine-month-old Lee John Marthinus – were walking to town on Drostdy Road from the farm Vooruitsig. They were on their way to buy school clothes and other essentials.”
According to Claasen, witness reports suggested the fruit bins “were not properly secured to the truck”.
“We will continue to monitor the situation closely,” said Claasen.
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