spikes N1 Spiking Gauteng criminal trend

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SPIKING Update: Motorist police officer shot suspect dead

The off duty policeman was travelling with his family when he was forced to stop after spikes punctured his vehicle on the highway.

spikes N1 Spiking Gauteng criminal trend

Photo: Unsplash

The motorist who shot dead a suspect after armed robbers placed spikes on the highway to force him to stop his vehicle at night is a policeman stationed at Lanseria Airport.

Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) spokesperson, Grace Langa said on Monday the the specialised SAPS unit was investigating the shooting that occurred on the R80 highway at around 9.30pm on Friday night. 

“A police sergeant stationed at Lanseria Airport ORS unit was off duty driving with his wife and two children when he drove over spikes on the R80 highway near block Xx in Soshanguve,” Langa said.

“While busy trying to change his wheel a group of unknown males approached him and it is alleged that they started shooting towards him and he drew his service pistol and shot back. One of the males was fatally wounded on the scene and others managed to escape,” Langa said.

She said the suspect was found to be in possession of a pallet gun and a knife, while police also recovered two pangas at the scene of the shooting.

“IPID is investigating,” Langa said.

Gauteng police earlier warned motorists to be vigilant of spikes on the roads after the latest incident on Friday.

Gauteng police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo said members of the SAPS Flying Squad had responded to the scene where paramedics declared the suspect dead.

“Police have launched a manhunt for the suspects who escaped from the scene and are warning motorists driving on R80 highway to be cautious, especially when driving at night,” Masondo said.

“The police have stabilised the incidents of car spiking in Gauteng roads that were on the increase, especially on the N4 highway and R566. Crime pattern analysis showed that as soon identified hotspots are mitigated with increased visibility of law enforcement and security partners then criminals either change their modus operandi or move to another location,” Masondo said.

Masondo advised that if motorists suspected that their tyres had been punctured as a result of having driven over spikes, they must immediately alert the police by calling the SAPS emergency number 10111, while scanning their immediate environment and changing the tyre. However, he said if motorist felt unsafe they should try to drive to the nearest petrol station or police station.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident last Monday, a motorist sustained moderate injuries following an alleged spiking incident on the N1 national highway near Hamanskraal in Gauteng.

Emer-G-Med paramedics spokesperson Kyle Van Reenen said at the time that paramedics had responded to the scene the incident where they found the man seated in his vehicle with a gunshot wound to his leg.  

“He was treated and stabilised on scene before being taken to a nearby hospital for further care,”    van Reenen said.

Van Reenen said that the motorist had been was forced to stop on the N1 highway after his tyres blew out from an object that was lying in the roadway.