Africa-Press – South-Africa. A police officer, who was part of a team in pursuit of a group of suspects, died after the vehicle he was in overturned during a high-speed chase in Vrededorp, Johannesburg.
The incident happened on Wednesday afternoon.
News24 arrived at the scene to find it cordoned off by police, while paramedics assisted an injured person on the ground.
Several eyewitnesses, who spoke to News24 on condition of anonymity, said they tried to help the officer.
They said the suspects were driving a VW Golf. One of the police officers fired shots at the perpetrators, who then changed direction and drove towards oncoming traffic.
One of the witnesses said the police tried to turn and follow, which led to their vehicle overturning.
“I saw the police car flying mid-air and the officer, who was firing shots, was flung out of the car, which later crushed him while he was on the ground.”
The witnesses rushed to the overturned police vehicle in an effort to help the injured officer underneath the car.
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“The official that was driving was unconscious, while the three of us had to lift the heavy police vehicle. We also stopped other bystanders from stealing the injured policeman’s gun, which was not far from where he was lying.”
A University of Johannesburg student, who lives in Vrededorp, said paramedics tried to resuscitate the injured police officer.
She said:
According to Mohamed Ameen Dabhelia, the communications officer at Vision Tactical Response, they received a call about a vehicle that had overturned at Solomon Street.
“The caller informed us about a police vehicle that had rolled following a high-speed chase.
“Unfortunately, one police officer fell out of the vehicle, which led to the police van landing on him. He sustained serious injuries and, following the efforts by Netcare paramedics, the police officer succumbed to the injuries,” Dabhelia said.
Repeated attempts to get comment from Gauteng police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo were unsuccessful. His comment will be added once received.
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