In last week’s edition of the Laudium Sun (April 13), readers were alerted to a current modus operandi being employed by criminals, who place rocks on the road, to snare unsuspecting motorists.
Now locals are up in arms after yet another Erasmia motorist fell victim to an interception, on the now ‘notorious’ Erasmia main road (M26), near the R55.
Thirty-year-old Elzine Street resident, Hadishka Singh, detailed to the Laudium Sun how she lost control of her vehicle after hitting rocks on the M26, in the early hours of this past Monday (April 16). The traumatised engineer said, “I was on my way to work, in Midrand, at about 4.30am when I hit an obstruction which I believe was placed by evil thugs, to trap an unsuspecting motorist, who happened to be me. After hitting the rocks, the tyre burst and I lost control of my brand new Mercedes Benz CLA. It was at this point that I realised I had been targeted by criminals, as I had just read in the Laudium Sun, of another motorist who had also knocked into some rocks, deliberately placed by criminals,” the visibly traumatised Hadishka recalled.
The distressed Erasmia resident continued, “When my car came to a standstill, I immediately jumped out and started running back towards Erasmia, along the M26 hoping and praying to God, that I would be able to flag down a passing motorist. As I got off my car I saw three hoodlums emerge from the bushes and rush towards the car, so I just carried on running for my life. As I looked back, they seemed to be searching my vehicle. I am so grateful to the motorist who stopped to help me. Unfortunately I did not get his name, but he immediately phoned the police who attended to my distress call within minutes. The police accompanied me back to my vehicle, which had definitely been looted. My handbag, cellphone and some important documents including my ID and license were gone,” Hadishka said gloomily.
She concluded, “It was a horrific incident which was so unexpected. Every time I close my eyes, I just see those thugs jumping out of the bushes. I’m really struggling to get past the fear. Nevertheless, I am grateful to be alive because I was all alone on the quiet road in the early hours of that awful morning. Who knows what those criminals could have done to me. I was also very lucky that someone stopped to help me. I urge all motorists to be extra careful and always check their surroundings while driving. I believe that these evil criminals place the obstructions in such a way that it is difficult to avoid hitting it.”
The Erasmia SAPS has once more issued a warning to motorists to be extremely vigilant and drive at moderate speed so that obstructions can be detected. “The suspects place obstacles on the road in the early hours of the morning knowing that at that time motorists don’t really check as they are rushing to work. We are working around the clock to ensure the arrests of the perpetrators," said a police official.
The area (just before the R55 intersection), where Hadishka Singh’s car hit rocks on the Erasmia main road.
M26 ambushing victim, Hadishka Singh.