On Monday afternoon i was cycling down Westlake Drive towards the traffic lights. I noticed a bicycle lying in the road, the rear wheel badly damaged. I moved the bicycle out the road as there were cars trying to use the lane. I then saw Charles standing on the side of the road trying to get someone to stop to help him. I spoke with Charles and with his broken English he told me that a women had driven into the back of him while he was at the traffic lights trying to get across from Steenberg Drive into Westlake Drive. She gave him no space and basically just road over his bike after he fell off. The women stopped, got out her car and shouted at him that it was all his own fault, checked her car for damage and left... no help for him at all. Charles got a pic of her car though before she sped off. We called the Police and they were there reasonably quickly. They were stoked there was a pic of the car and reg. For those that know the road its the only in and out from the business park. the women hadnt returned so they went looking for her and amazingly couldnt find her. I took Charles to the Police station and we filled out an accident report form and then also laid charges against the women driving the car. The Police also went to the owners house but of course nobody was home. We were also told that the only way we would get the owner to pay for the damages to the bike would be to go to court, until then Charles is left without transport. Im keeping an eye on things and phoning and asking what the latest is with the case etc in the hope i can help Charles not get 'left behind' being a Zimbabwean living in our country. Does anybody have a rear wheel and tyre lying around at home thats just gathering dust that they could give to Charles so he has transport again. He loves cycling and uses his bike for work transport but on the weekends goes riding and joins up with whoever he can find.
