News / National
Driver (50) fatally runs over two-year-old boy
16 Apr 2013 at 20:12hrs | Views
Police have arrested a 50-year-old man from Makwe area in Gwanda district for fatally knocking down a two-year-old boy while reversing his car from a grinding mill last Saturday afternoon.
Acting Matabeleland South police spokesperson Sergeant Nkosilathi Sibanda said they had since charged Dereckson Hlatswayo with culpable homicide. He identified the deceased as Siphamandla Khumalo, adding that his body was taken to Gwanda Provincial Hospital mortuary.
Sgt Sibanda said Hlatswayo parked his car at a grinding mill at Makwe business centre at around 3pm, where the toddler's mother is employed. "The accused had brought some maize meal in his Nissan Hardbody truck where the now deceased's mother is employed," he said.
"The woman, Alice Nyathi, then went to offload the maize meal and the infant followed her. The boy then started playing behind the accused's vehicle." Sgt Khumalo said when the two had completed offloading the maize meal, Hlatswayo then reversed his vehicle and hit the boy on the head. The child died on the spot.
Sgt Sibanda said a report was then made to the police leading to the Hlatswayo's arrest.
"We want to urge parents to also be wary of the whereabouts of their children so as to avoid unnecessary accidents. We also want to urge motorists to always abide by the basic road traffic regulations so as to avoid such deaths," he said.
Hlatswayo is expected to appear in court soon.
Acting Matabeleland South police spokesperson Sergeant Nkosilathi Sibanda said they had since charged Dereckson Hlatswayo with culpable homicide. He identified the deceased as Siphamandla Khumalo, adding that his body was taken to Gwanda Provincial Hospital mortuary.
Sgt Sibanda said Hlatswayo parked his car at a grinding mill at Makwe business centre at around 3pm, where the toddler's mother is employed. "The accused had brought some maize meal in his Nissan Hardbody truck where the now deceased's mother is employed," he said.
"The woman, Alice Nyathi, then went to offload the maize meal and the infant followed her. The boy then started playing behind the accused's vehicle." Sgt Khumalo said when the two had completed offloading the maize meal, Hlatswayo then reversed his vehicle and hit the boy on the head. The child died on the spot.
Sgt Sibanda said a report was then made to the police leading to the Hlatswayo's arrest.
"We want to urge parents to also be wary of the whereabouts of their children so as to avoid unnecessary accidents. We also want to urge motorists to always abide by the basic road traffic regulations so as to avoid such deaths," he said.
Hlatswayo is expected to appear in court soon.
Source - TH
