A taxi driver was arrested on Saturday after knocking down a female runner during the annual Soweto Marathon in Johannesburg.
Chelsea Ogilvie/News24
- A taxi driver was arrested after allegedly knocking down a female runner during the annual Soweto Marathon.
- The driver allegedly attempted to flee the scene before being apprehended by traffic officers.
- The 37-year-old runner sustained serious injuries and was rushed to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.
A 39-year-old taxi driver.was arrested on Saturday after knocking down a female runner during the annual Soweto Marathon and then attempting to flee the scene.
The driver, allegedly, was drunk.
The incident occurred near the intersection of Soweto Highway and Main Road/Mooki Street in Orlando East and Noordgesig, where the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) officers were deployed to manage traffic for the marathon.
The 37-year-old female runner sustained serious injuries and was immediately rushed to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital for urgent medical attention.
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“JMPD officers who were directing traffic were alerted to the accident. It is alleged that the driver of the taxi attempted to flee the scene following the accident, but was swiftly apprehended before he could escape,” said JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla in a statement.
He said the driver was subjected to a breathalyser test as officers suspected he was under the influence of alcohol.
The test indicated that the driver’s blood alcohol concentration was more than twice the legal limit.
Fihla said the driver was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and for failing to stop and render assistance.
Fihla said:
The JMPD views this violation of traffic laws and the disregard for the safety of road users, especially during a major public event, in a serious light. We wish the injured runner a speedy and full recovery.
The area is a key point along the annual Soweto Marathon route, which attracts thousands of participants annually and winds through various townships, including Orlando East, one of Soweto’s oldest and most established areas, and Noordgesig, a smaller adjacent community.
The annual Soweto Marathon typically attracts 20 000 participants and requires extensive coordination between multiple law enforcement agencies to ensure public safety.
Deputy President Paul Mashatile participated in the marathon, which was won by Lesotho long-distance runner Joseph Seutloali, who also won the Two Oceans marathon earlier this year.
“We appeal to all motorists to adhere strictly to all traffic regulations and to exercise extreme caution and sobriety,” Fihla added.
According to Fihla, the injured runner’s condition was still serious.
