Police have opened a culpable homicide docket after a 12-year-old girl from Philippi was killed by a law enforcement vehicle responding to an emergency in Cape Town.
City law enforcement spokesperson Wayne Dyason said that officers were responding to a gang threat in Grassy Park when the incident happened on Tuesday.
“In a tragic incident … officers‚ responding in their patrol vehicle to an urgent call for assistance from a colleague‚ ran over a 12-year-old girl in the Philippi farmland area. The officers were on their way to an urgent call from a law enforcement school resource officer for assistance with a gang threat at a Grassy Park school‚” said Dyason.
“On Ottery road in Philippi‚ opposite the Ottery cemetery‚ the officers collided with the 12-year-old girl who tragically succumbed to her injuries at the scene. The matter has been reported to SAPS and a full investigation into the accident will be conducted by them. The city extends its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and will also offer counselling to the family of the girl.”
Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel André Traut urged anyone with information to contact SAPS. “A culpable homicide case is under investigation‚” said Traut. “Any witnesses to the accident are kindly requested to contact investigating official Detective Constable Ricardo Coetzee on 0719149663 or 0216901515.”
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