[Meyerton 14 October 2011 15:30]
A 35 year old man has sustained extensive injuries after being knocked by a bakkie on the R59 in Meyerton, just past the Johann Le Roux offramp in the direction of Vereeniging.
The reason why the man was in the road will need to be investigated, but paramedics noted that the man may have been flung almost 10 meters after the initial impact with the bakkie, as that is where his shoes were found. He was lying over the yellow line of the emergency lane. The man needed treatment for multiple injuries including two broken legs and other broken bones. While paramedics stabilised his injuries, the ER24 Discovery Medicopter was called to the scene for rapid transport of the patient to an appropriate medical facility. He was airlifted to the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto.
The driver of the bakkie was not physically injured and was found to be walking around on the side of the road.
The far left hand side of the road was closed to traffic while paramedics were initiating treatment, and the entire road needed to be closed for the Medicopter to land.
The incident will require investigation by the necessary officials.
Vanessa Jackson, ER24