Cyclist down - Victoria Rd, Cape Town

[Pure Savage]

Saw this posting today on the "Constantia Society" FB page from a Hayley Godfrey - 

 

"*urgent witness information needed**

This is a long shot but hoping my fellow hout bay people can help. My husband and daughter were involved in the head on collision on the coastal road on Christmas eve. The man who caused the accident had been driving recklessly from camps bay to Hout bay and tried to overtake a myciti causing a huge accident which involved hitting a myciti bus, my husbands car head on, causing a cyclist to be thrown down the mountain and another car was also involved. Unfortunately the police have now lost all the witness statements (there were a few from people involved in the crash and witnesses driving behind the guy who caused the accident). There are 2 cases open against him for negligent and reckless driving but now with no witness statements I'm afraid this will get thrown out. I don't want this guy to do this to someone else. Sick of people driving like idiots on that coastal road putting us all at risk!

Please DM me if you have any info available to help us"

 

So, seemingly SAPS has 'lost' the witness statements .. go figure !

 

If anyone can assist this woman, let me know and I'll send her a message with your contact details.

I got in contact with an eyewitness of the crash on twitter. I will go back and see if I can find his name. Wait I think he may have been the Rav 4 driver.

[T-Bob]

Saw this posting today on the "Constantia Society" FB page from a Hayley Godfrey - 

 

"*urgent witness information needed**

This is a long shot but hoping my fellow hout bay people can help. My husband and daughter were involved in the head on collision on the coastal road on Christmas eve. The man who caused the accident had been driving recklessly from camps bay to Hout bay and tried to overtake a myciti causing a huge accident which involved hitting a myciti bus, my husbands car head on, causing a cyclist to be thrown down the mountain and another car was also involved. Unfortunately the police have now lost all the witness statements (there were a few from people involved in the crash and witnesses driving behind the guy who caused the accident). There are 2 cases open against him for negligent and reckless driving but now with no witness statements I'm afraid this will get thrown out. I don't want this guy to do this to someone else. Sick of people driving like idiots on that coastal road putting us all at risk!

Please DM me if you have any info available to help us"

 

So, seemingly SAPS has 'lost' the witness statements .. go figure !

 

If anyone can assist this woman, let me know and I'll send her a message with your contact details.

 

Let's spread this far and wide. Contact the press, hit the community groups (Hout Bay Organised  etc), go back through Social Media if you tweeted and retweeted and let the people know and let's not let this fade away like the guy responsible is obviously hoping it will. Wondered what some street pole posters on that route would cost or even try getting one of the mobile bill board companies to sponsor it as a community initiative or even ADT as a promotional thing. 

 

Is there a time limit for them to come forward and which police station is handling it? 

[Houtbay1234]

Thank you everyone for your info and help! I can report we have managed to get really great witness statements and numerous photos from the day. We won't let this rest. The cyclist is at home and is healing with his family.

[DJR]

Thank you everyone for your info and help! I can report we have managed to get really great witness statements and numerous photos from the day. We won't let this rest. The cyclist is at home and is healing with his family.

Thank you. I hope that my own family will never need someone to do what you are doing, but I am glad there are people like you who are willing to become involved. 

[Gav1]

Criminologist here, the best thing to do is not to give a statement on scene at all as one usually in shock. Go home, type out the statement starting with all of your personal details. Print it out, take two copies. They might ask to place it in the docket. Either write the statement yourself from the typed document while reading aloud so the officer taking the statement could ask you to add required information or dictate it to the police officer and make sure that they are writing it in full and not summarising. Take a note pad to write down any info they give you. Always take the name and rank of the officer who took the statement. I'm not sure of the legality, but I take a photo of the filled in statement anyway.

 

WHATEVER happens, do not confront an officer or give off the vibe that they are irritating or incompetent. Police smell this a mile away and will resist you intentionally. Fake a smile, pretend to be a buddy, and a helpful caring citizen that believes strongly in the justice system.

 

ALSO, accidents like this usually require an illustration of what happened. Usually the movements of the car and any important spaces/objects. If you can remember robots, stop streets, road lines, then try to incude those as well. Also do this at home yourself or with someone who can draw better than you. If you can remember, also illustrate on what area of the body the cars hit.

 

Lastly, if it was traumatic for you, find someone to debrief to as soon as you can. It lowers the chance of developing PTSD.

[Gav1]

 

Criminologist here, the best thing to do is not to give a statement on scene at all as one usually in shock. Go home, type out the statement starting with all of your personal details. Print it out, take two copies. They might ask to place it in the docket. Either write the statement yourself from the typed document while reading aloud so the officer taking the statement could ask you to add required information or dictate it to the police officer and make sure that they are writing it in full and not summarising. Take a note pad to write down any info they give you. Always take the name and rank of the officer who took the statement. I'm not sure of the legality, but I take a photo of the filled in statement anyway.

 

WHATEVER happens, do not confront an officer or give off the vibe that they are irritating or incompetent. Police smell this a mile away and will resist you intentionally. Fake a smile, pretend to be a buddy, and a helpful caring citizen that believes strongly in the justice system.

 

ALSO, accidents like this usually require an illustration of what happened. Usually the movements of the car and any important spaces/objects. If you can remember robots, stop streets, road lines, then try to incude those as well. Also do this at home yourself or with someone who can draw better than you. If you can remember, also illustrate on what area of the body the cars hit.

 

Lastly, if it was traumatic for you, find someone to debrief to as soon as you can. It lowers the chance of developing PTSD.

Last week I got robbed. Took an hour and a half for the officer to take my statement. Next day detective paid me a visit because the officer messed up the statement. Kudos to detective for following up.

 

I'm therefore grateful for this advice and agree that this might be best approach

[Gav1]

Thank you everyone for your info and help! I can report we have managed to get really great witness statements and numerous photos from the day. We won't let this rest. The cyclist is at home and is healing with his family.

Good news at least. Great work to all involved