A tragic series of events on Cape Town’s N1 highway has left two people dead and a traffic officer injured in a hit-and-run incident.

The officer was responding to a fatal motorcycle-pedestrian collision when he was hit by a fleeing bakkie driver.

The incident happened early Sunday morning shortly after midnight near the N1 overpass near the Okavango exit ramp, Kraaifontein, where a speeding motorcycle crashed into a woman, killing them both.

Police spokesman Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirms the fatal crash, as well as the traffic officer hit by a vehicle at the scene.

Twigg explains: “According to reports, the motorcycle collided with the pedestrian.

“The 31-year-old motorcyclist and an adult female were pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics, while another female victim was transported to a medical facility for treatment.

“A traffic officer who went to the scene was also injured when he was hit by another vehicle. He was taken to a medical facility for medical treatment.”

JP Smith, a member of the city hall’s safety and security committee, says the traffic officer was present at the fatal scene when he was hit by a white bakkie and the driver fled the scene.

He says the officer suffered a broken leg in the hit-and-run incident.

Twigg says police in Kraaifontein have registered a case of manslaughter for investigation.

Councilor for the department Rhynhardt Bresler says there are several footbridges and vehicular bridges over the N1, providing safe crossing options for pedestrians.

He says it is an offense for pedestrians to cross a national road outside designated places such as bridges.

Bresler explains, “There are many factors that can contribute to an accident; speed, carelessness, alcohol abuse and so on. I don’t know what the circumstances were here.

“It’s very sad that accidents like this have to happen and lives like this have to be lost.

“I would really urge pedestrians to avoid crossing national roads at places other than the safe pedestrian crossings provided to cross them.”

Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111.

Smith says this incident coincides with city agencies arresting 298 suspects over the weekend on various charges.

The traffic police detained 52 suspects, 36 of them for driving under the influence, 11 for reckless and negligent driving and another five for various crimes.

“They recorded 56,923 offences, seized 226 public transport vehicles and executed 2,040 arrest warrants,” says Smith.

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