Young motorcyclist dies after colliding with stationary truck in Brackenfell

Brackenfell police have opened a culpable homicide investigation following a deadly crash that claimed the life of a 22-year-old motorcyclist on Monday, December 15.

According to reports, the man was travelling along Bottelary Road near Soneike shortly after 9am when his motorcycle collided with a stationary truck. 

“The victim was declared deceased on the scene by medical personnel. The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation,” said police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg.

The crash occurred on the road that had been marred by many accidents in the past. Two months ago, mayoral committee member for urban mobility Rob Quintas said the City recorded 231 motor vehicle accidents on Bottelary Road between January and December last year, resulting in three fatalities and 15 serious injuries.

"The reported figures also revealed that most of the crashes were as a result of driver behaviour due to insufficient following distances, changing lanes whilst it was unsafe to do so, driving on the wrong side of the road, losing control of the vehicle, and merging into traffic without ensuring it was safe,” Mr Quintas said at the time.

Bottelary Road is classified as a higher-order route and, under the City’s Traffic Calming Policy, does not qualify for traffic-calming measures.

However, Mr Quintas confirmed that plans were in place to install a traffic signal at the intersection of Botfontein Road and Bottelary Road as a control measure.

Meanwhile, the Western Cape Mobility Department reported that 14 pedestrians lost their lives on provincially regulated roads between Monday, December 8, and Sunday, December 14. During the same period, 119 arrests were made, 81 of which were for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Department spokesperson Muneera Allie said: “Alcohol remains one of the most significant contributors to serious and fatal incidents, impairing judgement, slowing reaction time, and increasing risky driving behaviour.”