Dramatic CCTV footage has surfaced on social media showing the moment two runners – running on the pavement in the direction of the oncoming vehicle – were thrown into the air after a drunk driver veered into them on Victoria Road in Bantry Bay on Sunday, 30 March at 07:18.
Both runners, a man and a woman, were flung into the air from the force of the impact.
The woman fell over the wall on the side of the road leading to a rescue operation.
Click HERE to watch the incident. Note, the footage may be upsetting to sensitive readers
According to the Primedia+ website, she fell ‘100m’ and reportedly broke her leg.
A medical doctor out running attended to the woman who had to be winched up street level by the crane of a fire truck.
The runners, both members of the Atlantic Running Club, were training for this weekend’s Two Oceans Marathon.
The driver was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and was taken by the police to SAPS Sea Point station.
At the time of publishing there has been no confirmation of any outcome of his punishment.
Discharged from hospital
According to The Atlantic Sun website, the male jogger was discharged from hospital and is recovering at his Milnerton home.
“He is traumatised. He isn’t even speaking,” said the jogger’s brother, who only wanted to be identified as Phill.
He said his brother, whom he did not name, suffered bruises on both legs, stitches on his lips and a broken tooth.
“Thankfully, he caught hold of the barrier after impact and didn’t slide down the cliff.”
He and his brother often jogged on the same route together, but that particular Sunday morning, he had to work, so his brother went out on his own.
Phill said the accident has had a huge impact on his brother’s well-being, as he is an e-hailing driver who has two school-going children and a baby.
“He is on bedrest, so there is no income for his family. People should not drink and drive at all. This is as good as murder because you are endangering lives and negatively impacting those who rely on those lives. My brother is a hard-working family man who cannot support his family right now.”
Lost control
As reported by The South African website, according to Ward 54 Councillor Nicola Jowell, who took to her social media platform, the unnamed drunk driver reportedly lost control of his vehicle, causing him to hit the two runners.
‘It was a man and a woman who were hit. Thankfully the man has been checked into hospital and seems to be ok. The woman is still being assessed in hospital but signs are looking positive.
‘No matter what time day or night, driving drunk can kill innocent people. This morning at 07:40 an allegedly drunk driver lost control on Victoria Road and ploughed into two runners. The woman runner being flung over the wall of the road.
‘Well done to the swift response from all rescue personnel who rushed to the scene. A fire department truck being used to rescue the woman down the embankment. She is stable thank you to the medical doctor who was running close by and rushed to assist! The man was taken to hospital and miraculously had no broken bones and will be discharged
Are you aware of more drunk drivers on SA roads than before?
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