Unlicensed hit and run driver arrested in Verulam

A 17 year old Umdloti Heights, Verulam resident was arrested by members of Reaction Unit South Africa after he ran over a pedestrian and fled the scene of the accident.

At approximately 08:42 Reaction Officers in an unmarked vehicle were on patrol on Moss Street in Grange when they noticed a man lying on the pavement screaming for help. A black Land Rover was parked approximately 50 meters away and sped off as RUSA Members disembarked from their vehicle.

The vehicle details were circulated to back up Reaction Officers and was spotted on Russom Street. The driver refused to stop and had to be intercepted on Dore Street.

The unlicensed driver informed Officers that he was returning from a service station after he had purchased airtime. As he turned onto Moss Street he was entering the pin for the airtime into his cellphone when it fell. When he bent over to search for the phone his vehicle veered off the road, climbed the pavement and drove over the pedestrian resulting in him sustaining serious injuries. The pedestrian was treated for his injuries on scene before being transported to Osindisweni Government Hospital.

The teenager was handed over to the Verulam SAPS for further investigation.