News24 | Chaos as KZN ‘drunk driver’ arrested after multiple collisions, assault on traffic cop

An allegedly drunk driver went on a rampage which included collisions with at least five cars in KZN, and an assault on a traffic cop, before his eventual arrest.

• An allegedly drunk driver crashed into at least five vehicles and assaulted a traffic cop in KwaZulu-Natal over the weekend.
• He was arrested and is expected to appear in court soon.
• The man faces charges of assault, fleeing the scene of an accident, and reckless and negligent driving.

A “drunk driver” caused chaos on KwaZulu-Natal roads over the weekend, apparently crashing into at least five vehicles and assaulting a traffic cop, before he was finally arrested.

The dramatic series of events started with the man allegedly crashing into Andile Sosibo and his wife’s car in Pietermaritzburg on Friday night.

Speaking to News24, Sosibo said the man was in a Mahindra bakkie and drove straight into them.

“We expected him to stop immediately so we could assess the damage. But instead, he just drove on,” Sosibo said.

They started following him as he sped away, with Sosibo saying the man was swerving across lanes in an effort to get away.

READ | N3 highway in KZN closed after multi-vehicle pile-up in Cliffdale

“Luckily, in the opposite direction, we spotted traffic cops, and we alerted them about this driver,” Sosibo said.

He expressed his gratitude to the officer who had assisted them, whom he identified as one Sibusiso Zondi.

According to a statement issued by Transport MEC Siboniso Duma, officers subsequently spotted the Mahindra speeding along Chota Motala Road.

They stopped the driver, but he allegedly assaulted one of the officers – pushing them – before racing off again.

“While fleeing, the Mahindra collided with other vehicles on the N3. The drunk driver drove through the Howick area and collided with another vehicle before heading towards Hilton via the R103. On Hilton Avenue, once again, the Mahindra collided with a light delivery vehicle,” Duma said.

Duma said the man was believed to have collided with at least five cars in total, but motorists were still coming forward.

The man has since been arrested and is facing multiple charges, including assault, fleeing the scene of an accident, and reckless and negligent driving. He is expected to appear in court soon.

One officer, Phiwokuhle Ndabezitha, was injured when he rear-ended the man during the chase and Duma wished him a speedy recovery, saying he “showed bravery and went the extra mile to save innocent lives”.