Louis Booysen and his wife Sophia were returning to Knysna from Harkerville after dropping off their cousin, when their blue Toyota Conquest was hit by a truck. According to an eyewitness, 16-year-old Devlin Court who was the first to arrive on the scene, "I was on my motorbike and had to swerve out of the way of the accident, stopping about 100m from the injured". He explained that it looked as if the driver of the truck had fallen asleep as he slowly veered into the path of the oncoming Conquest. The truck driver’s account of the accident differs to that of Court. "The car came into my lane and it was too soon for me to avoid hitting him," explained the driver.
Court said, "I ran to the car and tried to help the man, but he died in my arms. The lady was so badly injured but I tried my best to keep her conscious and calm. Her eyes rolled back and I did everything I could to keep her awake". The terrible saying, ’no good deed goes unpunished’, ran true that evening. Court handed his cellphone to people who had arrived on the scene offering help. "They didn’t know the emergency number so I passed them my cellphone and they then ran away with it!" His only concern at the time was to offer Sophia comfort and assistance, so he didn’t pursue the thieves. "The police and ambulances arrived about 45 minutes later and only then did the truck driver get out of the truck".
Constable Chris Spies, Knysna Police communication officer, explained that the investigation into this accident is "at an early stage and the circumstances surrounding the accident are still being investigated".
The jaws of life were used to free 54-year-old Booysen from the wreckage. Sadly he was declared dead on the scene, while his wife sustained multiple injuries. "She is still in a critical condition in the Knysna Provincial Hospital," explained Spies.
Young Court has been visiting Sophia daily since the accident.
Johanna Luiters, Sophia’s sister, explained that her sister had received trauma injuries to her head and chest. "Both her eyes are swollen shut and she has a broken nose." Sophia explained that she could not remember any details of the accident, "I can’t remember anything, but I do believe that my husband’s death may have been caused by the fact that he had a successful back operation two weeks before the accident at Groote Schuur. Perhaps he wouldn’t have died of a broken neck if his spine wasn’t weakened by the operation," she explained from her hospital bed. Sophia was in a stable condition at time of going to press.
According to Spies, the driver of the truck escaped unscathed.
Arrangements for the funeral of Booysen has not yet been finalised. "The family is waiting for Sophia to be discharged from hospital first," explained her sister.
Booysen is survived by his wife, Sophia and their three sons, Wayne (24), Donovan (20) and Myran (13).
The Police are asking members of the public who may have information about this accident to contact the investigation officer, Captain Max Mangali on 044 302 6652.
Article: Fran Kirsten, Knysna-Plett Herald (sister newspaper of the George Herald).
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Devlin Court (16) has been visiting Sophia Booysen every day since assisting her at the scene of an accident in which her husband died
