A murder investigation has been launched after a woman died when a large rock was thrown through her car windscreen from the Van der Linde Bridge on the R24 near Bedfordview.
According to police spokesperson Captain Tintswalo Sibeko, Bedfordview SAPS received a complaint at about 09:00 on Friday and found the woman with serious head injuries inside her grey Honda.
She said the vehicle had damage to its windscreen and front bumper, while a solid rock was found at the scene.
“SAPS Bedfordview is investigating a case of murder following an incident in which a woman died after a solid rock was allegedly thrown from the Van der Linde Bridge onto a moving vehicle,” Sibeko said.
She added that the impact is thought to have caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle, resulting in it crashing into the barriers.
“The impact allegedly caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle, resulting in the vehicle colliding with the barriers. Emergency Medical Services were summoned to the scene, where the woman was declared deceased,” she added.
TimesLive reported that calls increased for cameras on bridges in the wake of the incident. It quoted Bedfordview ward councillor Jill Humphreys saying the community was deeply disturbed, while Bedfordview Community Policing Forum (CPF) chairperson Colin McKenzie said there had been at least two previous incidents of stones being thrown onto the freeway.
“The circumstances surrounding the incident are currently under investigation. Anyone with information that may assist with the investigation may contact the Crime Stop Line on 08600 10111 or submit information anonymously via the MySAPS App,” said Sibeko.
mthobisi.nozulela@iol.co.za
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