Truck driver who fled the Pongola crash that left 21 people dead arrested

The truck driver who fled Friday’s deadly crash in Pongola that killed 21 people has been arrested, the KwaZulu-Natal department of transport confirmed.

Nineteen school pupils, an assistant teacher and the driver of the bakkie in which they were travelling all died in the collision.

“The driver handed himself over to the police today after a call by the MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison,” Sipho Hlomuka said on Saturday.

Before his arrest, police launched a manhunt after the truck driver fled the scene which claimed the lives of 21 people, 19 of which are children.

The driver is expected to appear in the Pongola Magistrate’s Court on Monday. MEC Hlomuka is expected to attend the court proceedings.

“His arrest is important in assisting the families to deal with the devastation of losing their relatives. We commend the police who have had to activate all systems to make sure that the driver is pressured to surrender himself. We will be there to support the people of Pongola and the families during his court appearance on Monday,” said Hlomuka.

In a footage that has been circulating on social media, the driver is seen overtaking on solid line and colliding with a bakkie which was transporting school children on the N2 highway in the northern KwaZulu-Natal. He fled the scene immediately after the scene.

Source: Eyewitness News, Times Live, The Witness, Sunday World, The South African image from Times Live: Twitter/TrafficSA

Doctor Mahlaule

Doctor Mahlaule previously worked as a Freelance Journalist at Find-it SA where he was responsible for writing news articles and sharing them on social media platforms. Doctor Mahlaule holds a Diploma in Journalism, BA in Communication Science and a BA Honours in Media Studies. Doctor began his journey as a knowledge Management and Communications Intern at Zenex Foundation. He was responsible for support in event management, social media, website maintenance, writing and brand management. On weekends Doctor attends prison ministry and shares the scriptures with inmates at Krugersdorp prison and plays soccer in the afternoon on some weekends. He has a passion for reading and writing and enjoys going out with friends and socialising in his spare time. He has a one-year-old son and is planning on getting married soon. When asked about what keeps him going, he said: “My family keeps me going. I’m the man I am because I come from a loving home. I have a very supportive family who always encourages me to keep pushing hard.”

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