Locals help driver escape overturned truck

GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - On Thursday, June 29, a cargo truck carrying a load of frozen chicken packs overturned on the N9 at the Bloemhof/Nieu-Bethesda turnoff, 20 minutes’ drive from Graaff-Reinet.

Local farmer Justin Kingwill, his wife Liesl and their staff were first on the scene.

Justin Kingwill and two men had to break the cab’s windows to free the driver.

Although heavily pregnant with twins, Liesl Kingwill took care of the driver who displayed chest pains, a head injury and was suffering from shock.

The Kingwills and their staff also redirected traffic and tried to move vehicles past the scene. Unfortunately many cars stopped to collect the cargo of chicken which had fallen off the truck, creating an extremely dangerous situation on the busy road.

Liesl Kingwill called 10111 on arrival at the scene. Despite recent negative press regarding the emergency number, it worked effectively and an ambulance, paramedics and the police arrived approximately 1 hour after the call was made.

She ensured that the driver had all his personal belongings with him and the ambulance took him to hospital. Clean-up operations were still taking place on Friday morning.