Mapaballo Borotho
- A 39-year-old taxi driver was arrested after allegedly hitting a female runner during the Soweto Marathon and fleeing the scene.
- JMPD officers apprehended him shortly after the incident and found he was over the legal alcohol limit.
- The injured runner was taken to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, and a case has been opened for further investigation.
The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) on Saturday arrested a 39-year-old taxi driver for a hit-and-run incident in Soweto.
He allegedly hit a female runner who was participating in the annual Soweto Marathon.
“The incident occurred near the intersection of Soweto Highway and Main Road/Mooki Street in Orlando East and Noordgesig, an area where JMPD officers were deployed to manage traffic for the marathon,” said JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla.
The driver reportedly fled the scene after the accident, but officers managed to apprehend him before he could escape.
“The 37-year-old female runner sustained serious injuries and was immediately transported to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital for urgent medical attention.
Upon apprehension, the driver was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and was subjected to a breathalyser test. The test confirmed this, yielding a reading of 0.26 mg/l, which is significantly over the legal limit of 0.10 mg/l prescribed for professional drivers in South Africa,” said Fihla.
The driver has since been formally arrested on charges of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Hit and Run (Failing to Stop and Render Assistance).
He has been detained at Orlando SAPS, where a case docket has been opened for further investigation and prosecution.
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