Family of Lyle Thomas speaks out after officer's fatal hit-and-run accident
LEAP officer Lyle Thomas was tragically struck by a vehicle on Jakes Gerwel Drive near Samora Machel in December 2025.
Image: Supplied
The family of slain LEAP officer Lyle Thomas speak on their heartbreak as they await justice.
Officer Lyle Thomas, 28, who was off-duty at the time was tragically struck by a vehicle on Jakes Gerwel Drive near Samora Machel on December 14, 2025 at about 4.20am by a motorist who was allegedly under the influence.
According to police, Thomas spotted cops attending to an accident. He got out his VW Polo to assist. But as he was helping, a grey Toyota Fortuner slammed into the stationary police van and sadly claimed the life of the young officer.
His mother, Rene Nell, said that her son was one of a kind.
Nell said: “He was very much to himself, an old soul if I could put it that way as if Gen Z didn't fit his character whatsoever.
“My boy was a strong individual; his presence made everyone feel safe and at ease. As mentioned by the public so many times previously, he had blue blood running through his veins way before he earned his uniform.
“I don't think anyone understood him the way we (his family) did; we had a special kind of love where our home was his 'safe house'.
“He was brave beyond measure, a pillar of strength that everyone admired - but we knew, deep down, that innocent little boy still lived behind all the strength.
“At times we would catch him sitting with remote control cars, trying to fix it up just as he did when he was a little boy.
"My boy fought for what he wanted, for what was right, and he pushed through no matter the situation, but on the 14th of December, he was called home, and he couldn’t fight anymore.
“My little boy continued fighting, only this time it was for his life. Sadly, we lost him, and we miss him every day.”
The suspect who faces charges of culpable homicide returned to the Philippi Magistrates Court last week.
The court heard that the case was postponed to June 24 for the post-mortem report. The accused remains out on bail.
Nell added: “We knew that this case would be postponed because the investigating officer is on a 6-month training and so much more.
“There is nothing we can do to get Lyle back; we will never be able to hear his voice or ever hug him again. At this point all we can hope and pray for is that justice is served because that is what my boy deserves.”