N12 crash: Truck driver makes bail

NALEDI SHANGE

ALBERTON, Gauteng - Isaac Wade Maruding, the truck driver whose vehicle ploughed into traffic and resulted in  three people dying on the N12 East near Alberton on the East Rand, has been released on ball of R7000.

Maruding appeared in the Palm Ridge Magistrate's Court on Monday (Oct 27 2014).

Magistrate Samuel Hlubi sent an apparent appeal to lawmakers with his blunt comment: "I am saddened by [the] situation of truck drivers that in every accident he is the only one to be charged; not the owner or the company, not the one who inspected the truck before it left the company or the one who serviced it.

"I am waiting for the day when there is legislation when the State can prosecute all (those involved)."

VIDEO: Alberton horror crash aftermath

Going through Maruding's bail conditions, Hlubi ordered him to stay at his verified address in Viljoenskroon in the Free State: "He may only leave Viljoenskroon after getting written permission from the investigating officer."

Maruding was also ordered to report to the local police station every Monday between 7am and 7pm daily and his driving licence was confiscated. He will appear in court again on November 12 2014.

3 DEAD, 7 CRITICAL

The truck he was driving was alleged to have been responsible for a series of crashes involving 48 vehicles in heavy traffic on the N12 East in Alberton on the morning of October 14.

Three people died, seven remain critically injured and 19 sustained minor injuries.

Police Warrant Officer Joas Phokungwane arrested Maruding the day after the crash. He said Maruding left the scene of the crash and was arrested in Potchefstroom, with the help of his employer, the next day (Oct 15).

Phokungwane said he asked Maruding why he left the crash scene and the truck driver responded that a traffic officer had told him he could. Phokungwane found no traffic officer who could attest to this.

Maruding followed proceedings through a Sotho-speaking interpreter.

REPEAT OFFENDER

Maruding has indicated that he intends to plead not guilty to the three culpable homicide charges against him. He claimed that the crash occurred after the brakes on his vehicle failed.

This was not the first time that Maruding has been charged with culpable homicide and reckless and negligent driving.