A member of the Saldanha Bay community has launched a petition calling for urgent traffic-calming measures to be put in place on Saldanha Main Road after a high-speed accident claimed the lives of a set of young twins over the weekend, reports Cape {town} Etc.
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According to police spokesperson Captain FC Van Wyk, the 22-year-olds, Zoë and Alex Arends, were travelling from Vredenburg on Saldanha Main Road when the fatal accident occurred just after 9pm on Saturday, 9 November.
‘According to preliminary reports, one vehicle was travelling from Vredenburg’s side just past OK Mini Market when the driver lost control and collided with the signage chevron and swerved to the right, collided with the office structure on the right side of the road and ended up in the road facing oncoming traffic,’ said Van Wyk.
‘There were five persons in the vehicle, three ladies and two males.’
The twins, Zoë and Alex, died at the scene, while the other female and two males were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
‘Saldanha police registered a culpable homicide case,’ added Van Wyk, who confirmed that no arrests have been made as yet while the investigation continues.
According to Justine Bishop, who launched the ‘Make Saldanha Safer’ petition, another fatal accident took place on the same stretch of the main road exactly three years ago.
‘On 9 November 2021, Michelle De Clerck was struck by a speeding car driven by a naval officer while she was crossing near the OK Grocer. Sadly, this preventable accident took her life and left a lasting impact on our community,’ said Bishop.
In the petition statement, Bishop explains that the stretch between the traffic circle and BP garage on Saldanha’s main road has become increasingly dangerous, with these two tragic consequences, among other incidents, indicating that ‘something urgently needs to be done to slow down the speeding cars’.
‘These heartbreaking events have left families devastated and our community shaken, yet speeding continues unchecked.’
On Monday, two crosses with pictures of the twins were erected on a road sign at the accident scene, with their loved ones placing flowers around the pole as they bid their unexpected farewells.
@miss_talliardxx We were never ready to say goodbye my friend ??️ rest in eternal power ?❤️@Zoë Arends @Z I L K E ♬ original sound – Music?changesヅ
Acknowledging the importance of responsible driving, the petition statement argues that traffic-calming measures ‘like a robot or speed bumps’ would provide a strong deterrent against speeding and increase vigilance and road safety awareness.
‘By signing this petition, you’re standing up for safer streets and supporting life-saving changes that will protect everyone who lives, works and travels in Saldanha,’ concludes Bishop. ‘Let’s make Saldanha Main Road safe for all!’
At the time of publishing, the petition, which was launched on 10 November, received 291 signatures thus far. To add your signature, access the petition here.
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Picture: Executive Mayor Andrè Truter
