Gallery Update

GEORGE NEWS - A local businessman and his employee consider themselves lucky to be alive after a truck transporting empty beer bottles overturned on their vehicle last Friday afternoon.

Arnold Stopforth, the owner of George Locksmiths, and his employee, Wessel van Rensburg, were on their way to Plettenberg Bay to a call-out when the accident occurred on the Kaaimans pass.

Click here for a photo gallery.

"The truck was also travelling towards Plett. I remember it passing us at quite a speed and I told my passenger that we'd better get out of the truck's way as it won't manage to maneuvre the bend. Next thing, I heard slamming breaks and smashing glass. The truck fell on top of us and dragged us for about 150m before it came to a standstill. I still can't believe it. We are lucky to be alive," Stopforth told the George Herald.

Both the truck driver and his passenger sustained minor injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment. Both have been discharged since.

After the accident, sections of the road were closed and traffic was controlled by a stop-go-system for approximately eight hours while mop-up operations took place. At times, all lanes were closed for traffic and motorists had to use the old Saasveld road which, due to the nature of the road, quickly became congested, leading to an average two-hour travelling time between George and Wilderness.

George Locksmiths' vehicle trapped underneath the truck. Both occupants of the car miraculously escaped serious injury.

According to Southern Cape police spokesperson Capt Malcolm Pojie, the driver of the truck lost control on the wet road, after which the vehicle overturned. 

A case of reckless and negligent driving has been opened.