24-year-old arrested after horror crash kills six as BMW ploughs into pedestrians

The driver of a vehicle that is said to have ploughed into a group of men, killing six of them, was arrested by Eastern Cape police this morning.

The 24-year-old man will be charged with culpable homicide.

Eastern Cape Department of Transport spokesperson Unathi Binqose described the accident as the worst he has seen in the province in many years and the worst accident involving pedestrians.

“Six pedestrians have lost their lives after being knocked down by a single vehicle on the R61 between Mbizana and Port Edward,” he said. The accident occurred close to Redoubt.

Binqose said it happened at around 11 pm on Friday night.

“A BMW sedan was travelling from Mbizana to Port Edward with one male occupant,” he said. “Six men were walking along the road. The drive knocked all six of them. Five of them died on the scene. The sixth one died on the way to hospital,” he said.

Binqose said that the stretch of the R61 is unfortunately prone to vehicle accidents involving pedestrians and has called on both motorists and people walking on the side of the road to be extra vigilant.

The vehicle allegedly involved in a horror crash outside Mbizana. (Photo: Supplied)

Binqose said the driver had abandoned the badly damaged vehicle on the side of the road. It was later towed to the police pound. The vehicle sustained significant damage to the windscreen front of body. The driver fled the scene after the incident.

Binquose said that the police had been “on his heels” over the weekend.

Police spokesperson Colonel Siphokazi Mawisa said at 1 pm on 24 June that they have managed to arrest the suspect and will bring him before the Mbizana Magistrates Court later this afternoon.

“A case of culpable homicide has been opened for investigation following five pedestrians that were hit to death by a BMW at the Mzamba area,” she said. “The suspect has been arrested and will appear at the Mbizana Magistrate Court today.”

The MEC for Transport in the province, Xolile Nqatha, extended his condolences to the families of the deceased and called for the perpetrator to be brought to justice. DM