News / National
Cop battles for life after clinging onto taxi bonnet
19 Jul 2015 at 07:15hrs | Views
A Bulawayo-based policeman deployed for highway patrol duties in Masvingo is battling for life in hospital after he fell from a pirate taxi's bonnet which he was holding onto in a bid to stop the unlicensed driver from evading arrest, police confirmed.
Sergeant Proud Nyenge's condition was said to be critical with reports saying he suffered several injuries on the head as he fell head first into a ditch.
Acting Masvingo police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nkululeko Nduna said the incident occurred on Tuesday around 2pm and the suspect, Alex Nemuhambe (22), was arrested and is now assisting police with investigations.
He is expected to appear in court facing charges of kidnapping and attempted murder.
According to a resident, Sgt Nyenge (54) and other policemen were manning a roadblock in Mucheke suburb near Mucheke Stadium when Nemuhambe arrived driving a Toyota Vitz that he was using as a pirate taxi.
Sgt Nyenge signalled him to stop and he complied but changed his mind when asked to produce a drivers' licence.
Nemuhambe allegedly started to drive away and upon realising this, Sgt Nyenge is said to have jumped onto the bonnet.
"Undeterred, Nemuhambe sped off while Sgt Nyenge was clinging onto the bonnet. Nemuhambe drove for about four kilometres before swerving his car, leading to Sgt Nyenge falling headlong into a ditch. He sustained head and body injuries," said Mr Patrick Sibanda, a Mucheke suburb resident.
A policeman who was driving his own car saw that a colleague was hanging from the bonnet of a speeding Toyota Vitz and blocked it but not before Sgt Nyenge was thrown into a ditch.
He was rushed to Masvingo General Hospital where his condition was said to be critical.
Nemuhambe was then arrested for the offence.
Asst Insp Nduna urged motorists to obey road traffic regulations and to have valid drivers' licences as failure to hold one remained a serious criminal offence.
Last year in Bulawayo a police officer fatally fell from the door of a speeding pirate taxi as he tried to arrest the driver for flouting traffic regulations.
Sergeant Proud Nyenge's condition was said to be critical with reports saying he suffered several injuries on the head as he fell head first into a ditch.
Acting Masvingo police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nkululeko Nduna said the incident occurred on Tuesday around 2pm and the suspect, Alex Nemuhambe (22), was arrested and is now assisting police with investigations.
He is expected to appear in court facing charges of kidnapping and attempted murder.
According to a resident, Sgt Nyenge (54) and other policemen were manning a roadblock in Mucheke suburb near Mucheke Stadium when Nemuhambe arrived driving a Toyota Vitz that he was using as a pirate taxi.
Sgt Nyenge signalled him to stop and he complied but changed his mind when asked to produce a drivers' licence.
"Undeterred, Nemuhambe sped off while Sgt Nyenge was clinging onto the bonnet. Nemuhambe drove for about four kilometres before swerving his car, leading to Sgt Nyenge falling headlong into a ditch. He sustained head and body injuries," said Mr Patrick Sibanda, a Mucheke suburb resident.
A policeman who was driving his own car saw that a colleague was hanging from the bonnet of a speeding Toyota Vitz and blocked it but not before Sgt Nyenge was thrown into a ditch.
He was rushed to Masvingo General Hospital where his condition was said to be critical.
Nemuhambe was then arrested for the offence.
Asst Insp Nduna urged motorists to obey road traffic regulations and to have valid drivers' licences as failure to hold one remained a serious criminal offence.
Last year in Bulawayo a police officer fatally fell from the door of a speeding pirate taxi as he tried to arrest the driver for flouting traffic regulations.
Source - sundaynews
