Africa Wild

No proof that anything is wrong with that road I suppose. BTW What IS wrong with that road?

There's nothing wrong with the road itself. The problem lies with SP not doing anything about the speeding on that road. It's not the first accident where people lost their lives in the north.

This road more than others Speed bumps every 20 meters

I've found out some stuff, and have the following opinion:

The nearest gate the taxis (there were 4) could have entered at was Punda Maria, 120 km north of the accident. Letaba, where Sanparks said the "day visitors" were on their way to, is 70km further. Therefore their day trip back to Punda Gate would have been a round trip of around 400km, which is impossible, especially including "festivities". (The accident happened around 10h30-11 in the morning)

These taxis were doing the commute between Venda and Phalaborwa, skipping the obnoxious Giyani road, and this is a common occurence. They sometimes go right down even as far as Crocodile Bridge/Komatipoort, speeding and often drinking along the way. They would most likely have stayed over in Phala and come back the same way the next day.

https://lowvelder.co.za/513744/eyewitne ... urist-knp/

Eyewitness accounts of the accident that killed a Swiss tourist in KNP
Shocked eyewitnesses to the accident that claimed the life of a Swiss tourist in the Kruger National Park (KNP) this week are certain that the taxi was speeding.
11 hours ago


SKUKUZA – Roland Koller died in Netcare Milpark Hospital on Wednesday.

A giraffe calf, that had been hit by a taxi on Sunday morning, fell on the vehicle he and his wife had been travelling in. The incident occurred on the road between Mopani and Shingwedzi camps.

Koller, an anthroposophic physician, was critically injured while his wife sustained light injuries. One of Koller’s work colleagues in Switzerland, Daniela Tugutelmann, confirmed that they had been informed of his death.

Alex and Athena Pitsillis told Lowvelder that they had arrived on the scene as taxi passengers were pulling the injured Koller from the vehicle.

“Twenty kilometres from Mopani Rest Camp, four taxis overtook us at speed. We had our speedometer set to 48 kilometres per hour, so we are certain than they were going faster than the speed limit of 50 kilometres,” the Pitsillises said.

“The giraffe had landed on the roof of the hired safari vehicle, which was driving in the opposite direction. The giraffe was jerking and twitching until it died.”

Jaco Gericke, from CPF Medical Phalaborwa, responded to the accident scene and after stabilising the patient found that he had a head injury and a mandibular fracture.

The paramedic informally measured the length of the tyre skid marks and found them to be 35 metres long.

“The road’s surface in the KNP is of such a nature that it tends to leave long skid marks if you suddenly brake, even when travelling at only 50 kilometres per hour. From my perspective as a qualified accident investigator, the skid marks are longer than they should have been if the taxi driver had been keeping to the speed limit,” Gericke said.

Spokesman for Limpopo SAPS, Brig Motlafela Mojapelo, confirmed that the driver of the Toyota Quantum and a passenger with head injuries had been taken to Maphuta Hospital.

Initially a case of reckless and negligent driving was opened. He could not be reached for comment at the time of going to press as to whether the charge will be changed to culpable homicide after Koller’s death.

Ike Phaahla, communications manager for the KNP, confirmed that tourist monitors and traffic police have been instructed to have zero tolerance with traffic offenders.

“Appropriate speeding fines will be issued by officials. The cameras will be commissioned on November 18. It is important to mention that drivers and tourists must change their attitudes and observe the speed limits imposed in the park,” he said.

It is interesting that the tar surfaces in Kruger slide more easily. They were built for slower traffic. Will find out more!

Klippies!

Phaahla was on radio today saying that "impoverished community members" club together to make the pilgrimage to the Kruger experience in a taxi for a day visit.

This is true, but not in the case of this squad, I fear.

Sanparks always make up a nice PR packet with ribbon and bow. The plain facts are not acceptable to them Who are they trying to save this time? A taxi driver who has not stuck to the rules and killed a poor man plus a giraffe?

No police got called?

The paramedic informally measured the length of the tyre skid marks

Because he knew that nobody else would do it?

The police were there eventually, Lis!

35m