INLSA
At least one person died after this collision on Omuramba Road in Milnerton. Photo: Henk Kruger
Tragedy struck the family of a top SA golf star on a weekend that saw at least 14 people lose their lives on Western Cape roads.
Trevor Immelman’s brother-in-law, Aidan Greeff, died in an ambulance after a motorbike crash on Saturday, reportedly on a road between the N1 and Calitzdorp in the Klein Karoo.
Greeff, 38, a Somerset West businessman who is the director of a beverage company, is married to Immelman’s sister Michelle.
The international golfer said on Facebook: “Very sad day for the Greeff/Immelman family. We will miss you, Aidan. Will never forget how you could always bring a smile to our faces.”
Their elder brother, Mark, a professional golf coach in the US, posted on his website: “RIP my dear brother-in-law… Aidan Greeff! I never told you so (and that is my mistake) but you were and will always be my other brother!”
Provincial traffic chief Kenny Africa said it was a “dark weekend” in Cape Town, where road deaths included an 11-year-old girl, a three-month-old baby and a police officer.
On Sunday morning, a 79-year-old woman died in hospital after a collision on the M5 near the Kromboom Road turnoff.
Cape Town traffic spokeswoman Merle Lourens said the woman was in a car with a two-year-old child and an 80-year-old male driver, presumed to be her husband. They had taken the Sybrand Park off-ramp on to the M5 to watch the Toy Run when their vehicle hit a bakkie.
The incident happened at around 10.50am, and the woman died later in hospital.
Also on Sunday, at least one person was killed when a taxi and car collided on Omuramba Road in Milnerton.
Traffic authorities could not confirm more details at the time of going to print.
Provincial Traffic spokesman Harold Williams said an 11-year-old girl was killed on Saturday morning when she was hit by the wheel of a large truck while standing on the side of the road.
Williams said a bakkie broke down on the side of the N7 between Trawal and Clanwilliam. The passengers, among them the 11-year-old girl, got out of the vehicle tostand on the side of the road. It was later reported to traffic authorities that an oncoming truck lost one of its wheels, and it started rolling down the road towards the bakkie’s passengers. The wheel apparently hit the 11-year-old girl, said Williams.
In another incident on Saturday morning, on the N7 between Lamberts Bay and Grawater, three women and a man died after the driver of a car they were travelling in allegedly lost control of the vehicle, which veered off the road and overturned.
Later that afternoon, a motorcyclist was killed and another seriously injured when they collided with a car on the N1 near Paarl.
Williams said the incident happened between Simonsvlei and Klapmuts.
The cause of the collision is not known. ER24 paramedics said that when they arrived at the scene they tried to resuscitate one of the motorcyclists, but he was later declared dead at the scene. The other motorcyclist was treated for a broken leg before being transported to the Paarl Medi-Clinic.
Also on Saturday, a three-month-old baby died when the car she was travelling in overturned on the R27 near Silverstream. Williams said it is believed the vehicle’s tyre had burst.
On Friday, four people including a police officer died after a head-on collision along Jan van Riebeeck Road in Paarl. Provincial police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel André Traut said the officer was a constable stationed at the airport. He said the four deceased were travelling in one car. “The circumstances of the collision are being investigated,” he added.
Yesterday Africa said traffic officers would be clamping down on transgressors this festive season, and issued a warning to speedsters and drunk drivers.
He said officers would also be conducting drug tests.
“People who are found to be under the influence of drugs will be arrested and given the same treatment as those who are under the influence of alcohol,” he said.
natasha.prince@inl.co.za – Cape Argus
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Immelman’s family hit hard by road death