MAPHALALENI – Two women were severely injured after a runaway vehicle crashed into a local shop. The vehicle, an Isuzu bakkie, is said to have plowed through all three walls that made up the store and exited on the other end, causing an estimated 56,000 Euros worth of damages.

The vehicle was said to have been traveling down an extremely steep gravel road when the driver lost control and the brakes failed. Ultimately causing it to slam right into the shop.

The driver was rushing beer cases to drinking spots in the area. He is said to have tried but to no avail to control the vehicle until it reached the shop that is located a few feet away from the edge of the road.
Mongi Shabangu, the owner of the Grocery Shop confirmed the accident had taken place the way the driver had claimed. He said the vehicle crashed into his shop and further injured his shopkeeper Nomsa Ngozo and Mary Myeni, a customer.

“The vehicle smashed into the counter and further caused the back wall to collapse. In the process, the rubble fell on Ngozo while the car threw Myeni outside the shop. She was found behind the shop where the car had lost its momentum,” said Shabangu.

Police Public Relations Officer Superintendent Wendy Hleta confirmed the accident. Superintendent Hleta said the driver was arrested and charged with reckless driving. She also added that the driver claimed he was trying to avoid children whom he found on the road.
She said then explained there were contributory factors of reckless driving in that he failed to control the car until it crashed into the shop.

Hleta was quoted stating “It was the only shop in the area”.