Off-duty LEAP officer killed while assisting at accident scene on Jakes Gerwel Drive

An off-duty Law Enforcement Advancement Programme (LEAP) officer was killed when he was run over by a vehicle while assisting at an accident scene on Jakes Gerwel Drive on Sunday.

The City said the driver, who was confirmed to have been under the influence of alcohol, was detained at Samora Machel SAPS.

“We extend our condolences to the officer's loved ones and his colleagues. This is an absolute tragic end to a young life. The officer was just 20 years old. The Safety and Security Directorate will work tirelessly to ensure that justice is served and that the suspect faces the full might of the law,” said Law Enforcement spokesperson, Wayne Dyason.

The incident comes a day after the provincial government expressed deep concern about the high number of heavy motor vehicle (HMV) incidents recorded since the start of December.

The province recorded 43 incidents involving heavy motor vehicles on Western Cape roads since the beginning of this month. They include breakdowns, collisions, and overturned vehicles.

“HMV incidents not only pose a serious safety risk to drivers, passengers and pedestrians, they also cause major traffic delays and disrupt economic activity. Clearing these scenes can take between 2 to 6 hours, or longer, depending on the nature of the incident,” said the department of Mobility.

Provincial Traffic Law Enforcement officers were expected to be on duty 24/7 across all key routes this weekend to ensure the safety of residents and visitors.

Mobility MEC Isaac Sileku said: "Road safety is a shared responsibility. Every overturned truck is a preventable tragedy that endangers lives and hampers mobility. We urge the freight industry to take immediate action to improve safety standards and protect all road users."

Cape Times