Young Cape Town soccer player dies in tragic accident

According to reports, police are searching for two taxi drivers who allegedly fled the scene of a tragic incident, which ended in the death of popular Cape Town soccer player, Lyle Johnson.

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It’s alleged that the taxis had driven over Johnson after he fell off a bakkie, with family member Marius Swartz stating that the freak accident occurred when he was travelling in Parow.

“They picked up something in Ravensmead, and one or two taxis driving behind them were pressuring to overtake them,” Swartz said, as quoted by IOL.

“Like I heard it, the door then came loose and Lyle must have lost his balance and his grip and that is how it happened. He landed on the road and the taxi drove over him,” he said. “According to the doctors, Lyle passed away on the scene. The taxi drove over his head.

“I was his biggest supporter. He went to Manchester in England with the school’s academy. He was a very respectable young man. Lyle had big dreams, it is just unfortunate that it was taken away from him.”

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Soccer was a major passion for the 28-year-old

Police spokesperson, FC van Wyk confirmed the incident that led to the death of Johnson, who played in the third division for Trinitarians Football Club and was described as “the life of the changing room”.

“According to reports, police were informed by personnel of a nearby hospital regarding an incident on Monday at about 12pm in De La Rey Road, Parow Industrial, where a 28-year-old man fell from a LDV and two taxis drove over him,” he said.

“He was taken to the hospital by a private vehicle. It is alleged that the two taxis drove off from the scene,” van Wyk said. “A case of culpable homicide is under investigation, while an accident report has been registered at Ravensmead SAPS, no arrest made yet. Investigations continue.”

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