Update
HARTENBOS NEWS - A completely unexpected sight awaited Hartenbos residents, Tian Cronje (68) and his wife, Elma, when they took their dogs outside on Friday morning, 10 July – a whole section of the wall around their home had been knocked down.
The pair stay in Port Natal Road where a driver had crashed his bakkie into the wall on Thursday night at around 22:00.
Tian said the situation is definitely inconvenient, but the help of his neighbours has made it so much easier.
They had been watching TV at the time of the accident and because the property is quite big and near to the railway station, Tian thought the sound of the bakkie colliding with his wall was perhaps a steam train passing by.
“Only the next morning did we see what happened,” he said.
Following the accident, Tian’s neighbours, Desmond Lottering and Tomi Carter, as well as their families, offered their assistance with no hesitation.
They began clearing up the rubble and vehicle parts that were left behind in the crash, and even set up a temporary fence where the wall was damaged.
When taking his statement, the Da Gamaskop Police were just as helpful, “from the reception to the Warrant Officer on the case,” said Tian.
“It’s funny how the Lord sends angels in your time of need. I don’t like that the incident happened, but what a blessing it has been to receive the community’s help. What a positive experience to come out of a negative situation,” he said.
According to a spokesperson for the Southern Cape Police, Warrant Officer Chris Spies, a case of reckless and negligent driving is currently under investigation.
Rudi Van Der Berg from Meyer Towing, who had also responded to the scene, told Mossel Bay Advertiser the driver had been taken to hospital by emergency services. The driver’s condition is unknown at this stage.
Spies said the circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation and no arrests have yet been made.
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