Cape Town - Police are looking for two taxi drivers who allegedly drove over a man after he fell from a bakkie, before leaving the scene.
Well-known Cape Town soccer player, Lyle Johnson, from Elsies River died in a freak accident on Monday, just two days after his 28th birthday.
His brother, Marius Swartz, said Lyle was travelling with a work colleague near De La Rey Road in Parow when the accident happened.
“They picked up something in Ravensmead, and one or two taxis driving behind them were pressuring to overtake them,” Swartz said.
“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.”
He said it’s tragic how Johnson’s life was cut so short.
“I was his biggest supporter. He went to Manchester in England with the school’s academy,” he said.
“He was a very respectable young man. Lyle had big dreams, it is just unfortunate that it was taken away from him.
Police spokesperson, FC van Wyk confirmed the incident.
“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.”
Johnson was playing in the third division for Trinitarians Football Club.
“He could play any position, he was the life of the changing room,” coach Zaheer Simons said.
“He was always singing, always getting the team ready but also a guy that would never back down from a confrontation,” Simons said.
“He was a bright young man and he had lots of life in him and always motivated players who couldn’t get into the first 11, keeping them positive on the bench.”