An allegedly drunk Eastern Cape ambulance driver was arrested after he knocked over a pedestrian while driving a state ambulance.The pedestrian, 25-year-old Raylene Flannigan, suffered head, shoulder and foot injuries.
The 23-year-old driver is an employee with the department of health. He was immediately arrested last week Thursday in Komga after police were called to the scene.
Flannigan was out jogging at the time of the incident.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch yesterday, she said she was near her home when the incident happened.
“The accident happened in a split second as I was jogging and looking down. By the time I looked up the ambulance was already in front of me and collided head-on with me. I fell on the road and he came out of the vehicle.”
Police were called to the scene where the suspect, identified as Sinalo Myeki, was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving.
Police said he could also be charged with negligent driving.
“After he knocked me off he didn’t know what to do and I was surprised because he is an ambulance driver after all. He just stood there and kept on saying he was sorry. I could smell that he was intoxicated and I was even the one who asked him to rush me to hospital,” Flannigan said.
She was taken to Komga Hospital where she received stitches to an injury on her head.
Myeki appeared in the Komga Magistrate’s Court on Friday but was released pending the return of blood tests.
Police spokesman Captain Mluleki Mbi said: “The driver was arrested on the scene for drunken driving. He appeared before court the following morning, where his case was withdrawn pending the return of blood results from the laboratory. The victim has since been discharged from hospital.”
Health spokesman Siyanda Manana confirmed that Myeki was an employee of the department. He said the department had learnt with great disappointment of the incident.
“This is not the kind of behaviour that is condoned by the department. Serious disciplinary action will be taken against anyone who is found to have acted against the department’s core values.
“This employee will be given a chance to plead his case as to why disciplinary action should not be taken against him.”
Flannigan said she was still in pain following the incident.
“I am still bruised and I get headaches which I think is from falling so hard. At the hospital no X-rays were taken to see the damage and they did not even refer me to Frere Hospital as Komga does not have the facilities to do X-rays.
“I want justice from the court case. I want him to learn a good lesson from this incident. He works for the state and is supposed to transport people in a safe manner.” — mamelag@dispatch. co.za
‘Drunk’ ambulance driver arrested
The pedestrian, 25-year-old Raylene Flannigan, suffered head, shoulder and foot injuries.
The 23-year-old driver is an employee with the department of health. He was immediately arrested last week Thursday in Komga after police were called to the scene.
Flannigan was out jogging at the time of the incident.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch yesterday, she said she was near her home when the incident happened.
“The accident happened in a split second as I was jogging and looking down. By the time I looked up the ambulance was already in front of me and collided head-on with me. I fell on the road and he came out of the vehicle.”
Police were called to the scene where the suspect, identified as Sinalo Myeki, was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving.
Police said he could also be charged with negligent driving.
“After he knocked me off he didn’t know what to do and I was surprised because he is an ambulance driver after all. He just stood there and kept on saying he was sorry. I could smell that he was intoxicated and I was even the one who asked him to rush me to hospital,” Flannigan said.
She was taken to Komga Hospital where she received stitches to an injury on her head.
Myeki appeared in the Komga Magistrate’s Court on Friday but was released pending the return of blood tests.
Police spokesman Captain Mluleki Mbi said: “The driver was arrested on the scene for drunken driving. He appeared before court the following morning, where his case was withdrawn pending the return of blood results from the laboratory. The victim has since been discharged from hospital.”
Health spokesman Siyanda Manana confirmed that Myeki was an employee of the department. He said the department had learnt with great disappointment of the incident.
“This is not the kind of behaviour that is condoned by the department. Serious disciplinary action will be taken against anyone who is found to have acted against the department’s core values.
“This employee will be given a chance to plead his case as to why disciplinary action should not be taken against him.”
Flannigan said she was still in pain following the incident.
“I am still bruised and I get headaches which I think is from falling so hard. At the hospital no X-rays were taken to see the damage and they did not even refer me to Frere Hospital as Komga does not have the facilities to do X-rays.
“I want justice from the court case. I want him to learn a good lesson from this incident. He works for the state and is supposed to transport people in a safe manner.” — mamelag@dispatch. co.za
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