The driver went to assist his colleague whose car was stuck near the deadly gas truck when both their cars were blown off and unwittingly ended up saving her life and that of the truck driver before it exploded.
The truck exploded near the OR Tambo Memorial Hospital claiming at the latest count the lives of 26 people and injuring many others in Boksburg on Christmas Eve. The explosion also caused extensive damages to the OR Tambo Hospital, set fire to a few households and also destroyed rail and other infrastructure.
Charges against the 32-year-old truck driver have since been dropped after police initially said he faces charges of multiple counts of culpable homicide, negligent causing of an explosion resulting in death [Act 26 of 1956, Section 27 (2)] and malicious damage to property.
Now, law enforcement authorities say the suspect was taken in for questioning and was released on a warning pending investigation into the incident. The police have also opened an inquest into the incident.
The Uber driver, Willie Nkgodi said he realised the situation was volatile when he was called to the scene by his colleague who is also in the e-hailing business for both Uber and Bolt.
“We have a group where we report if we encounter problems. My colleague said she found the truck stuck and the driver advised her to pass on the other side of the road when her car got stuck due to the gas that was already leaking.
“I didn’t know the truck was carrying gas when I arrived on the scene. When I realised it was gas, I tried to reverse my car and it switched off due to the gas. Then, I advised my colleague that we should move. I knew if I tried to switch on the engine again, it could cause a spark that might ignite the truck,” said Nkgodi.
As Nkgodi, his colleague and the truck driver began moving away from the truck, there was a huge explosion that knocked them down.
“ As we moved there was the first explosion and we fell. We stood up and continued moving away from the truck. There was a second explosion and the driver also fell. He (the driver) was down and I kept trying to talk to him so he didn’t fall asleep. We called the ambulance and he was taken to hospital,” said Nkgodi.
Nkgodi said his car was his source of income and now he awaits for the insurance to deal with the matter.
