Nine hurt in Florida hijack, crash drama

Nine people were injured after a car that had apparently been hijacked crashed into a bakkie and a caravan, while being pursued by a security company.

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Johannesburg – Nine people were injured in an apparent hijacking at the intersection of Louis Botha and Barry Hertzog roads in Florida, west of Johannesburg, on Friday afternoon, Gauteng paramedics said.

ER24 spokesman Russel Meiring said paramedics, along with other services, arrived on the scene to find a car, a bakkie and a caravan “in the middle of the road”.

“It is believed that a mother and her three children had apparently been hijacked in their light motor vehicle. A security company gave chase as the vehicle fled with the occupants. Some distance later, the driver apparently lost control, causing the light motor vehicle to smash into the bakkie and caravan,” he said.

On assessment, paramedics found nine people had been injured in the collision. Five of the injured were children – four girls and a boy. Some of them were critically injured and required immediate treatment. Paramedics treated the patients and provided them with advanced life support.

“The mother was airlifted by the ER24 helicopter while a seven-year-old boy was airlifted by another private helicopter to a nearby hospital for urgent treatment.

“Four girls, aged between one and 16, were transported to various hospitals with injuries ranging from minor to moderate. The three apparent male suspects were transported under SAPS [SA Police Service] supervision to Laratong Hospital,” Meiring said.

African News Agency

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