zululami
Banned
Durban - A Durban driving licence examiner’s legs had to be amputated after she was crushed against a barrier by a learner driver during a yard test.
A young woman seeking her Code C1 (Code 10) licence apparently lost control of a small truck and drove over examiner Letacia van der Merwe, 57, who was pinned against the barrier before falling five metres down an embankment.
The incident happened just after 10am on Tuesday at the Rossburgh Testing Station.
One of Van der Merwe’s legs was amputated on Tuesday night and the other was removed on Wednesday.
Van der Merwe had apparently told the young woman to start her driving test when the accident happened. Road tests were postponed for the rest of the day.
An examiner, who asked not to be named because he is not allowed to speak to the media, said it was “a sore sight” to see Van der Merwe suffering. He said she had worked at Rossburgh since the 1980s.
“It was a very traumatic experience for everyone because you had other examiners, who were busy with applicants, rushing to help. At any one time we have about 10 cars out on the yard and with the screams of the young woman and our colleague, it was heartbreaking to see,” he said.
The source said Van der Merwe toppled down a five-metre grass embankment after an examiner managed to release the small truck pressing her against a barrier.
The young woman had apparently panicked and jumped out of the vehicle in shock, not knowing what to do, he said.
The Daily News spoke to several witnesses at the testing stationon Wednesday. A security guard said the vehicle had been switched off before an instruction was given.
“She was asked to move the car forward and it so happens that it was in gear, so the car jumped forward as she was turning the key and then I think her foot was on the accelerator because it went more forward and squashed (Van der Merwe) onto the barrier,” he said.
On Wednesday night, relatives were visiting Van der Merwe when the Daily News went to the hospital.
The family declined to comment because it was “too early”, one relative said.
Road Traffic Inspectorate spokeswoman, Zinhle Mngomezulu, confirmed the incident, but said she was still awaiting a full report from the testing station.
“The applicant was given an instruction but lost control of the truck. She then crashed into her and injured her legs,” she said.
A staff member at Kunesikhathi Driving School, who asked to remain anonymous, said the incident had left her shaken.
“When I arrived at the offices, she (the learner driver) was in a state of shock and was shaking,” she said.
The staffer said the woman “must have panicked”.
Source: http://www.iol.co.za/dailynews/learner-driver-crushes-examiner-1.1858507#.VVSdCnkw9aQ
Tragedy
A young woman seeking her Code C1 (Code 10) licence apparently lost control of a small truck and drove over examiner Letacia van der Merwe, 57, who was pinned against the barrier before falling five metres down an embankment.
The incident happened just after 10am on Tuesday at the Rossburgh Testing Station.
One of Van der Merwe’s legs was amputated on Tuesday night and the other was removed on Wednesday.
Van der Merwe had apparently told the young woman to start her driving test when the accident happened. Road tests were postponed for the rest of the day.
An examiner, who asked not to be named because he is not allowed to speak to the media, said it was “a sore sight” to see Van der Merwe suffering. He said she had worked at Rossburgh since the 1980s.
“It was a very traumatic experience for everyone because you had other examiners, who were busy with applicants, rushing to help. At any one time we have about 10 cars out on the yard and with the screams of the young woman and our colleague, it was heartbreaking to see,” he said.
The source said Van der Merwe toppled down a five-metre grass embankment after an examiner managed to release the small truck pressing her against a barrier.
The young woman had apparently panicked and jumped out of the vehicle in shock, not knowing what to do, he said.
The Daily News spoke to several witnesses at the testing stationon Wednesday. A security guard said the vehicle had been switched off before an instruction was given.
“She was asked to move the car forward and it so happens that it was in gear, so the car jumped forward as she was turning the key and then I think her foot was on the accelerator because it went more forward and squashed (Van der Merwe) onto the barrier,” he said.
On Wednesday night, relatives were visiting Van der Merwe when the Daily News went to the hospital.
The family declined to comment because it was “too early”, one relative said.
Road Traffic Inspectorate spokeswoman, Zinhle Mngomezulu, confirmed the incident, but said she was still awaiting a full report from the testing station.
“The applicant was given an instruction but lost control of the truck. She then crashed into her and injured her legs,” she said.
A staff member at Kunesikhathi Driving School, who asked to remain anonymous, said the incident had left her shaken.
“When I arrived at the offices, she (the learner driver) was in a state of shock and was shaking,” she said.
The staffer said the woman “must have panicked”.
Source: http://www.iol.co.za/dailynews/learner-driver-crushes-examiner-1.1858507#.VVSdCnkw9aQ
Tragedy
