ROAD accidents took their toll during the past weekend, claiming the lives of a popular young Paarl fire-fighter and her friend.
Gaynor Cloete (28) and JR van der Westhuizen were on their way to Mossel Bay on Friday for a weekend away from their hectic schedules, when tragedy struck.
According to eye witness’s on the scene, the Tata bakkie in which they were travelling, collided head-on with another vehicle on the N2 near Albertinia.
Cloete and Van der Westhuizen were killed instantly, as well as the driver of the other vehicle. Six other people were injured.
The news of Cloete’s death rapidly spread through the fire-department, leaving colleagues in disbelief.
A spokesperson for the department, Dereck Peceur, said that Cloete had been a dedicated fire-fighter for the past two years and had a great future in the fire and rescue department.
“Gaynor enjoyed her work and was always first in line to get to a scene. Nothing scared her and I was often surprised by her bravery.
“We are all devastated at the loss and it was a privilege knowing her.”
Cloete is survived by her parents, Gilmour and Anetta Petersen, and two brothers, Angelo and André.
The service will take place on Saturday at 09:00 from the family home at 37 Mozart Street, Groenheuwel, after which she and JR will be laid to rest together at 10:00 at the New Apostle Church, New Orleans.
* In another horror accident, a couple lost their unborn child on Sunday. Corlia and Bertus Fourie of Wellington were travelling on the Klipheuwel Road towards Malmesbury when their Hyundai Tucson went out of control on the wet road surface.
Corlia, winemaker at Lelienfontein Vineyards, was eight months pregnant. She lost the baby due to multiple internal injuries.
The couple’s three-year-old daughter, Nelleke, who had been strapped into her baby chair, miraculously escaped injury.
Bertus sustained severe injuries, fracturing both arms, a shoulder, and breaking his nose and sustaining fractures to his legs. Both he and Corlia are in a serious but stable condition in Paarl MediClinic.
* Another local man was seriously injured on Saturday when the Fiat Uno in which he was travelling collided with a fourwheel drive vehicle.
According to eye-witnesses, the accident took place when one of the vehicles tried to perform a u-turn in the road at Boschenmeer.
Derek Pietersen from Paarl South sustained multiple fractures. Three other passengers were slightly injured.
A spokesperson for the traffic authorities said road users must take extra care over the next few days, when road traffic will reach a peak before Christmas.
