Police attending to culpable homicide scene discover overturned truck laden with illicit cigarettes and driver trapped inside the cabin

POLOKWANE – The Police in Marble Hall attending to a scene of culpable homicide in which a truck had overturned on the road between Marble Hall and Elandskraal on Thursday 02 February 2023 at about 12:40, discovered that the truck was fully loaded with boxes of illicit cigarettes.

The police were alerted about the accident by a motorist who was driving behind the 12 ton truck travelling from Marble hall towards Elandskraal when its driver suddenly lost control and it overturned.

The initial probe conducted at the scene indicated that the motorist then stopped to assist the driver who was trapped inside the cabin and the critically injured passenger. Further probe revealed that while police and medical emergency services were still on the way to the scene, unknown suspects driving in a sedan motor vehicle arrived and pointed the good samaritan with firearms. The suspects then forcibly removed the critically injured passenger from the truck and put him into their vehicle and sped off.

The driver of the truck whose identity is not yet known, was certified dead on the scene by the paramedics. Police confiscated about 300 boxes containing illicit cigarettes.

A case of culpable homicide and possession of illicit cigarettes was opened and the search for the armed suspects who whisked the injured passenger is continuing.

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of these suspects should urgently contact the police on the toll-free crime stop number 0860010111 or contact the nearest police station or use MySAPS app.

Source: South Africa Police Service