MickeyD
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Cape Town - A motorist's attempt to escape the police ended ignominiously with a crash into a tree, but not before he had compounded his woes by triggering a speed trap and bashing another car along the way.
And at least one other motorist found himself in a similarly tricky situation on Sunday when he stopped Metro Police Camera Response Unit members to ask for directions in the city's CBD, only to be promptly arrested for driving under the influence.
The City of Cape Town's Traffic Service said in a statement that a bakkie driver whose bid for freedom was halted by a tree on Friday, refused to stop when instructed to do so in Durbanville Avenue.
"A high-speed chase ensued, involving five Ghost Squad vehicles. The suspect collided with another vehicle during the chase and also drove through a speed check, where he was recorded doing 204 km/h in a 60 km/h zone.
"The driver was eventually caught when he lost control of the vehicle and hit a tree at the intersection of Durban Road and Frans Conradie Drive."
A total of 28 drunk drivers were nabbed during an operation in Durbanville on Friday. Five more motorists were arrested for reckless and negligent driving, including the driver of the bakkie.
"By behaving in this manner, this motorist not only put his own life and the lives of other road users and members of the public at risk, but also caused himself unnecessary problems," mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith said.
"He should not have been behind the wheel drunk, but if he had simply stopped when asked, he would have faced a single charge. Now he is having to deal with an additional charge of reckless and negligent driving and will probably have to face the insurance nightmare that comes with crashing his vehicle and colliding with another motorist."
On Sunday, traffic officers conducted an operation in Belhar, where they arrested 12 motorists for drunk driving, including one who was five times over the legal limit. Officers also suspended 30 vehicles for being unroadworthy and encountered 81 unlicensed drivers during the four-hour operation.
Meanwhile, officers attached to the Metro Police Camera Response Unit came across another suspected drunk driver in the Cape Town CBD in the early hours of Sunday morning when he stopped them to ask for directions.
Officers arrested the 24-year-old after noticing that he reeked of alcohol and that his speech was slurred.
Metro Police arrested 12 suspects for possession of drugs, including a 15-year-old who was found in possession of 65 packets of tik in Kraaifontein. Officers also found 108 rounds of ammunition for various calibre firearms in a bag that the teenager was carrying, including 51 shotgun rounds.
"This case is of grave concern, as it just further highlights how gangs are using vulnerable teenagers to do their dirty work. I am fairly sure that this teenager was being used as a runner."
Smith said it spoke to a need for greater social intervention targeting young people at risk, like the Metro Police Youth Academy, a diversion programme with more than 80 young recruits.
News24 Correspondent
Source: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Speed-bump-for-speedster-drunk-driver-20150914
And at least one other motorist found himself in a similarly tricky situation on Sunday when he stopped Metro Police Camera Response Unit members to ask for directions in the city's CBD, only to be promptly arrested for driving under the influence.
The City of Cape Town's Traffic Service said in a statement that a bakkie driver whose bid for freedom was halted by a tree on Friday, refused to stop when instructed to do so in Durbanville Avenue.
"A high-speed chase ensued, involving five Ghost Squad vehicles. The suspect collided with another vehicle during the chase and also drove through a speed check, where he was recorded doing 204 km/h in a 60 km/h zone.
"The driver was eventually caught when he lost control of the vehicle and hit a tree at the intersection of Durban Road and Frans Conradie Drive."
A total of 28 drunk drivers were nabbed during an operation in Durbanville on Friday. Five more motorists were arrested for reckless and negligent driving, including the driver of the bakkie.
"By behaving in this manner, this motorist not only put his own life and the lives of other road users and members of the public at risk, but also caused himself unnecessary problems," mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith said.
"He should not have been behind the wheel drunk, but if he had simply stopped when asked, he would have faced a single charge. Now he is having to deal with an additional charge of reckless and negligent driving and will probably have to face the insurance nightmare that comes with crashing his vehicle and colliding with another motorist."
On Sunday, traffic officers conducted an operation in Belhar, where they arrested 12 motorists for drunk driving, including one who was five times over the legal limit. Officers also suspended 30 vehicles for being unroadworthy and encountered 81 unlicensed drivers during the four-hour operation.
Meanwhile, officers attached to the Metro Police Camera Response Unit came across another suspected drunk driver in the Cape Town CBD in the early hours of Sunday morning when he stopped them to ask for directions.
Officers arrested the 24-year-old after noticing that he reeked of alcohol and that his speech was slurred.
Metro Police arrested 12 suspects for possession of drugs, including a 15-year-old who was found in possession of 65 packets of tik in Kraaifontein. Officers also found 108 rounds of ammunition for various calibre firearms in a bag that the teenager was carrying, including 51 shotgun rounds.
"This case is of grave concern, as it just further highlights how gangs are using vulnerable teenagers to do their dirty work. I am fairly sure that this teenager was being used as a runner."
Smith said it spoke to a need for greater social intervention targeting young people at risk, like the Metro Police Youth Academy, a diversion programme with more than 80 young recruits.
News24 Correspondent
Source: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Speed-bump-for-speedster-drunk-driver-20150914
