The Arrive Alive website has received a passionate plea from a road user who suffered terribly as a result of a collision with cattle on the roads. We would like to share this on this Blog:
“My husband was involved in a serious motor vehicle accident near Heidelberg on 11 August 2011 after colliding with cattle on the N3 highway.
He was airlifted to Alberton and was in a coma for weeks.We do not have medical cover and he was too unstable to be transported elsewhere.He sustained critical head injuries and is still recovering in the Tshwane rehabilitation Centre.
The irony of the matter is , is that he is fanatic about road safety!!Our lives have been turned upside down because of a farmer who did not see to it that his cattle is secure.He now denies it was his cow , but took the carcass away from the scene. Farming next to a National road poses additional risks and additional steps have to taken to address this. (Fencing etc) According to emergency staff more accidents are caused by cattle roaming on a highway!
On the day of the accident the other cow was still on the N3 3 hours after my husbands’ accident This week is Road safety week and I am increasingly becoming so angry about this situation.
Everybody is shrugging their shoulders, (no other vehicle involved?)Road accident fund act does not provide support in this instance- no markings on the roadside about cattle on this National Road? Drivers are calling in to Radio stations to warn other motorists.
When is something going to be done about this?
We are faced with hundred of thousands of rands in medical fees. And my husband and the father of our 2 sons is recovering from serious brain injuries.
No other negligent person involved? I don’t think so!!”
Also view:
Who is responsible for collisions into animals on the road?