PICTURE: FACEBOOK/ ACCIDENT SCENE
A 14-year-old boy has died after a vehicle he was driving overturned multiple times on the M25 in KwaMashu, KwaZulu-Natal, in a tragic incident that has raised concerns over reckless behaviour and alcohol use.
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According to Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA), the crash occurred on Sunday afternoon after emergency teams were flooded with calls from members of the public reporting a serious accident.
“Members of the public reported a serious motor vehicle accident,” RUSA said, adding that its operations centre had been “inundated with calls.”
Reaction officers arrived at the scene at approximately 15:59 and found a blue Toyota Corolla Quest that had overturned several times.
“On arrival… officers found that a blue Toyota Corolla Quest had overturned multiple times,” RUSA said.
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Passenger
Preliminary reports indicate that the teenager was behind the wheel at the time of the crash.
“It is alleged that the 14-year-old was driving the vehicle… when he failed to negotiate a bend, causing the vehicle to veer onto the verge… before rolling several times,” the unit said.
The vehicle eventually came to rest upright in the opposite lane.
Authorities said the boy’s father was a passenger in the vehicle and is believed to have been under the influence of alcohol.
“It was established that the boy’s father was a passenger in the vehicle at the time of the incident. The father was allegedly under the influence of alcohol, which resulted in the minor operating the vehicle,” RUSA said.
Paramedics found that the teenager had been ejected from the vehicle during the crash.
“He sustained fatal injuries and was declared deceased on scene,” RUSA confirmed.
The father was taken into police custody for further investigation.
The incident remains under investigation.
First published by African Insider
Compiled by Betha Madhomu
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