Truck crushes boy (12)
2006-12-14
WHILE the provincial government stumbles to find a resolution for the accidents caused by heavy vehicles on Franschhoek Pass, a twelve year old boy has become the latest statistic of this harrowing problem.
Anthony Vlotman (12) was killed instantly on Monday afternoon when a truck whose brakes had failed while descending the pass, ran out of control at the Huguenot Monument, plowing into an open piece of land were four children had been playing.
The other children were lucky to survive the incident unscathed, but were severely traumatised.
The truck was travelling at such a high speed when the accident occurred, that it flattened a large tree against which it collided.
The truck was shattered and parts were scattered over a wide area.
The truck driver, Klaas Asaria of Beaver Earthworks (Somerset West), was hospitalised with serious injuries.
In April this year, six people were killed when a runaway milk tanker travelling between Villiersdorp and Franschhoek, jack-knifed at almost the same spot and plunged into a Toyota Venture, before coming to a standstill against a bakkie full of farm workers which was parked beside the road.
After this incident the Stellenbosch Municipality requested that the Western Cape Provincial Government should investigate the volume of heavy vehicles using the Franschhoek Pass.
Hereafter it was advised that a weighbridge would be erected on the Villiersdorp side of the pass where the freight of heavy vehicles could be checked.
Johan Joubert, previously traffic superintendant of collision investigation of the Stellenbosch Municipality, was involved in the investigation of the accident earlier this year.
“During the investigation I recommended that the Pass should be closed to heavy vehicles, because it has been proven time and time again that the pass is a death trap.
“Other recommendations were made such as constructing a sand-trap at the bottom of the pass, but this will not be practical, as there is no adequate site for it.
“Often the trucks that drive on this road are unroadworthy, and drivers purposely use the pass to escape inspections on the N1 at the Huguenot tunnel.
“Other drivers use this road so that they can pocket the toll fees.
“To date none of the recommendations have been adhered to. How many more lives must be lost?”
The village of Franschhoek is also split about this matter.
Many residents say that the village is one of the top tourist destinations in the country and they are dead set against heavy vehicles passing noisily, and often at high speeds, through the town.
On the other hand, stopping the flow of heavy vehicles over the pass can negatively effect the local packaging industry, which brings much needed employment to the area.
This industry relies on the many trucks that bring fruit from the Vygeboom and Villiersdorp areas to Franschhoek.
While the powers that be continue to ignore the urgency of a resolution to the problems of the pass, young Anthony’s family will no longer enjoy a festive season, but a mourning season.
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