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2 months ago
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An off-duty LEAP officer was killed in Cape Town while assisting at an accident scene.
Darren Stewart/Gallo Images
- An off-duty LEAP officer was killed in Cape Town while assisting at an accident scene.
- An allegedly drunk driver was arrested in connection with his death.
- Police officers at the scene managed to avoid being hit.
An off-duty Law Enforcement Advancement Programme (LEAP) officer was killed on Sunday when an allegedly drunk driver crashed into the scene of another accident where the officer had stopped at to offer his help.
The incident occurred on Jakes Gerwel Drive, near Samora Machel, Cape Town.
“The police vehicle was parked on the side of the road with flashing blue lights when an off-duty law enforcement officer stopped on the left side of the road with his VW Polo to assist the police members with the accident. A silver-grey Toyota Fortuner came at a very high speed and drove into the back of the police vehicle, which then overturned,” said police spokesperson, Captain FC van Wyk.
Police officers at the scene managed to avoid the approaching vehicle, but officer Lyle Thomas was fatally injured.
The Toyota Fortuner rammed into a nearby tree and came to a complete stop.
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“The 37-year-old driver of the Toyota Fortuner was arrested and taken to the shadow centre for a blood alcohol test, and afterwards detained at Nyanga police station on a charge of culpable homicide. He will appear in court once charged,” said Van Wyk.
Western Cape Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC Anroux Marais said the incident was a “devastating loss of a young life dedicated to service”.
“Officer Thomas was not only a LEAP officer, but a young man whose life was defined by commitment, courage, and selflessness. Even when he was not required to act, his instinct was to help and to protect others. That sense of duty ultimately cost him his life,” she said.
“We are heartbroken by the death of Officer Lyle Thomas, a young man who embodied the very values of service, courage and commitment to community safety. He died doing what he believed in, protecting others. This is a devastating loss for his family, his colleagues, his community and our province.”
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Marais added that the tragedy underscored both the dangers law enforcement officers face and the devastating consequences of reckless behaviour on the roads.
“Our officers put themselves in harm’s way every single day to keep our communities safe. It is unacceptable that an officer should lose his life because of alleged reckless and irresponsible driving. Drunken and negligent driving destroys families, shatters communities and robs us of young lives with so much potential,” she said.
“Allegations that the driver who caused the tragedy may have been under the influence of alcohol are deeply concerning. While investigations are ongoing and due process must be followed, the Western Cape government strongly condemns drunken driving in the strongest possible terms. Alcohol-related crashes remain one of the leading causes of death on our roads and continue to claim the lives of innocent people, including those sworn to protect the public.”
