This past Tuesday evening (January 23) was supposed to be an interesting one for EFF councillor Tanya Letlonkoena (36) as she was excited to be taking a new white Ford Ranger, she had just purchased, for a test drive.
However, Tanya of Bengal Street, Laudium, was soon left flabbergasted at around 9pm that evening after she apparently lost control of the bakkie, crashing it into a tree.
According to Nadirah Omar, who lives on the corner of 39th and Himalaya Street, they were about to go to bed when they heard a loud bang. Nadirah told the Laudium Sun. “When we looked outside, we saw plumes of dust and quickly ran out to see what happened. As the woman came down the street, I think she lost control and drove right into the tree. The bakkie flipped to its side then back on its wheels."
Nadirah's father, Omar, added, "We were in shock when we saw all this action taking place in our neighbourhood. Our neighbours and everyone came running out towards the car. Luckily, no one had been injured.
"We called the Laudium Police and an ambulance. Tanya managed to get out of the car. When the SAPS arrived, Tanya told them that she had recently bought the bakkie and because she was not used to it, it was too fast for her, so she lost control.
EFF members from Atteridgeville arrived on the scene and seemed to have a bad attitude towards the Laudium Police and the community members who had gathered at the scene, which I felt was not right," Omar said adding, "Thank God no one got hurt and all of us are safe. She could have driven into one of our yards, which could have caused serious injuries."
Speaking to the Laudium Sun, Tanya said that she had been admitted to Muelmed Hospital. “The bakkie was too fast when I took it for a test drive, I lost control and hit a tree. The car has been written off. I do have injuries to my spine and legs and I am in a lot of pain, but hopefully I will recover soon. Fortunately there were no passengers with me, and no one else got injured.”
Tanya’s new Ford Ranger had to be written off, after the accident.
Resident, Nadirah Omar, said they heard a loud bang.
EFF Councillor, Tanya Letlonkoena (36) is recovering at the Muelmed Hospital.