Passenger impaled by pole in freak accident

THE passenger in a transport delivery truck was killed in a gruesome crash in Port Elizabeth yesterday when he was impaled by a railing which flew through the windscreen when it was hit by the truck.

The freak accident on the Russell Road off-ramp, which claimed the life of Fuzile Gema, 39, was described as "very bizarre" by officials.

The incident happened shortly after 9.30am when an Intertown Transport truck, heading towards Summerstrand, smashed into the railing on the off-ramp.

Police spokeswoman Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg said the preliminary investigation revealed that the driver of the truck lost control of the vehicle.

"According to the driver, he lost control of the truck and the bull bar hit the side railing," she said.

"We suspect that when the bull bar clipped the railing it became dislodged.

"The momentum of the truck led to the railing lifting and the entire pole went through the front windscreen and through the truck."

Officials on the scene said body parts of the passenger were found in the back of the truck.

The driver sustained minor injuries and was taken to the Injured on Duty Centre for treatment.

Intertown Transport director Jonathan Meyer said: "We can't talk at this stage.

"We are dealing with distraught staff and family."

The off-ramp leading to the M4 was blocked off by emergency workers for about two hours.

Managers of Intertown Transport, whose offices are based in Sidwell, were on the scene but declined to comment.

Police are investigating a case of culpable homicide. - Gareth Wilson