Stellenbosch student hit by municipal vehicle

A student from Stellenbosch University was hit by a municipal vehicle on the corner of Ryneveld Street and Merriman Avenue on the morning of 4 May. This was according to Hilda Qutywa, a traffic officer at the Stellenbosch Traffic Department who arrived at the scene of the accident.

 A municipal vehicle hit a Stellenbosch University student on the morning of 4 May near the Ryneveld Street and Merriman Avenue intersection. This was according to Hilda Qutywa, a traffic officer with the Stellenbosch Traffic Department who was at the scene of the accident. PHOTO: Kara van der Merwe

“The incident occurred at approximately 08:36,” said Axel Mouton, a medical rescue technician from Metro Ambulance Services who was on the scene. 

The student, a 23-year-old male, was “in a pretty stable condition and treated on scene by the [Netcare] ambulance crew”, said Shawn Herbst, Netcare 911 national spokesperson. 

Once stabilised, the student was transported to the Stellenbosch Mediclinic, added Herbst. The student was suspected to have sustained fractures, said Herbst. This could not be confirmed at the time of publication.

A 23-year-old male was transported to the Stellenbosch Mediclinic with suspected fractures, said Shawn Herbst, Netcare 911 national spokesperson. This was after the person was hit by a municipal vehicle on the morning of 4 May in Stellenbosch. PHOTO: Kara van der Merwe

Municipal investigation underway

“The municipality can confirm that a municipal vehicle from our Water Services Department (Sewerage Works) was involved in a light accident with a pedestrian earlier this morning,” said Stuart Grobbelaar, communications manager for Stellenbosch Municipality.

In terms of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), this type of accident is dealt with by the Stellenbosch South African Police Service, according to Grobbelaar.

“The municipality will also conduct our own safety inspection on the cause of the incident,” added Grobbelaar. 

No further information was available at the time of publication, as the municipality was still busy investigating the incident, said Grobbelaar.

“The municipality can confirm that a municipal vehicle from the Water Services Department was involved in a light accident with a pedestrian earlier this morning,” said Stuart Grobbelaar, communications manager for Stellenbosch Municipality. PHOTO: Kara van der Merwe