Mrs Irma Viljoen of Standerton had a close shave on Monday morning when an emergency vehicle from Balfour slammed into her bakkie, causing it to overturn and land against a tree on the pavement on the opposite of the street.

A shaken Mrs Viljoen alleges that the emergency service vehicle failed to stop at the stop sign where Joubert Street joins Coligny Street and that the driver had not activated the vehicle’s siren at the time of the accident.

Mrs Viljoen, who was on her way to pick up her husband, was able to crawl out of her overturned vehicle, badly shaken but unhurt except for a scraped knee and a small cut to the chin.

Residents in the vicinity rushed outside when they heard the noise, offering assistance to both drivers. The driver of the emergency vehicle also escaped serious injury and was able to rush over to check on Mrs Viljoen, who was later taken to hospital for observation.  

In accordance with the Law on National Road Safety (1996), only the driver of a fire truck, ambulance, rescue vehicle, a traffic officer or a member of the public on public protection duty may disregard road signs or speed limits, but only in cases of emergency and if they clearly indicate their intentions by activating blue or red lights and sirens.  KF