Header: LUCKY TO BE ALIVE
Subhead: Joggers survive hit and run as woman is knocked down Bantry Bay cliffs
By Genevieve Serra
TWO joggers are lucky to be alive after they were knocked off the road by a reckless driver.
A Cape Town man has appeared in court for drunk and negligent driving after he crashed into the pair in Bantry Bay, sending a woman airborne into bushes in the rocks below.
Both victims survived and are receiving medical treatment after the horrific ordeal.
The crash, captured on CCTV footage on Sunday, 30 March, along Victoria Road shows the two runners being hit, with the woman flung into the air before landing in rocky terrain along the coast.
Police spokesperson, Sergeant Wesley Twigg said the driver was arrested at the scene.
Twigg reports: “Sea Point police arrested an adult male for driving under the influence of alcohol and reckless and negligent driving following an accident in Victoria Road, Bantry Bay on Sunday morning.
“According to reports two joggers, a male and a female were hit by the driver of the vehicle. The injured victims were taken to a medical facility for medical treatment.
“The suspect appeared in the Cape Town Magistrates’ Court on 1 April.
“Anyone with any information about this incident can contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111.”
The driver, David Polet, was allegedly under the influence of drugs and alcohol He was arrested, charged and released on R10 000 bail by the Cape Town Magistrates Court.
Neil Robinson, Pedal Power Association (PPA) CEO, said they were outraged by the latest incident.
Robinson adds: “The Pedal Power Association is once again disgusted, very angry and saddened, by the incident on the Atlantic Seaboard Road where a driver who was intoxicated knocked over two runners.
“The PPA, talks on behalf of all non-motorised transport in South Africa, therefore pedestrian, cyclist anyone who is travelling via non-motorised means, we try and speak on behalf.
“We are really dismayed by the amount of lawlessness and incredibly poor driving, especially with people who are intoxicated and are on the road
“We hope that the law comes down on this person and that it sends out a clear message that this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated on our roads in South Africa.”
Road safety advocates are calling for justice as this incident follows several recent high-profile traffic crashes in the area.
Atlantic Seaboard Resident, Peter Flentov also took to their Facebook Page: “The Atlantic Seaboard Community Forum,” where he informed the public of what took place.
“Shortly, after 7.30am this morning [Sunday], a driver who was allegedly driving under the influence lost control and drove into a group of runners, hitting two. One of the runners that was hit, a female, was flung over the wall and she slid/fell down the steep embankment,” he wrote.
“A medical doctor out running attended to the woman who reportedly broke a leg. She had to be winched up to street level by the crane of a fire truck. The woman is reportedly in a critical condition, but stable, condition.
