Emmarentia shooting: Police call for calm after fatal road rage incident
An alleged road rage argument turned fatal in Emmarentia on Sunday.
Image: Suburban Control Centre
Police have urged motorists to avoid road rage situations.
This, as the man who allegedly shot dead a motorist and seriously wounded his wife in full view of their minor children, in Emmarentia, on Sunday, has been arrested.
The suspect is expected to appear in court on Tuesday on charges of murder and attempted murder.
According to Gauteng police spokesperson, Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi, the 58-year-old driver has been arrested and is expected to appear before the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court.
“An alleged road rage incident led to the murder of one man and injury of two people. It is reported that on the afternoon of April 19, two male drivers were involved in a road rage incident at Emmarentia, which led to a physical altercation.”
Police allege that during the confrontation, a female passenger, believed to be the wife of one of the drivers, retrieved a firearm from their vehicle.
The second driver also drew a weapon, leading to the shooting.
“The shooting claimed the husband's life, while the other driver sustained minor injuries and the female passenger was taken to hospital with a gunshot wound. Police will investigate a case of murder and attempted murder.”
Authorities have urged motorists to remain calm and follow traffic rules to prevent such incidents.
“The public, especially drivers, are urged to always abide by the traffic rules and exercise patience while using public roads to avoid road rage situations,” Nevhuhulwi said.
Road rage, according to Arrive Alive is "an incident in which an angry or impatient motorist or passenger intentionally injures or kills another motorist, passenger or pedestrian, or attempts or threatens to injure or kill another motorist, passenger or pedestrian".
CarTrack issued the following tips to avoid road rage.
- Drive safely: Cutting off drivers, driving in and out of lanes, and forcing yourself in front of another vehicle with the nose of your vehicle are irresponsible driving behaviours that trigger road rage.
- Avoid speeding: Exceeding road speed limits, especially during harsh weather conditions, can provoke feelings of anger and frustration in other drivers, leading to road rage.
- Don’t engage with angry drivers: Don’t pull that finger out to respond to angry drivers. Instead, get away from the situation as quickly and safely as possible.
- Don’t drink and drive: Alcohol makes you irritable and short-tempered, making you more likely to behave aggressively behind the wheel and increasing the risk of road rage.
Domenic King, a community activist and managing director of Combined Community Watch, urged the public to keep a cool head when in a road rage situation.
"A vehicle is a piece of metal. People, please think carefully when you have your family with you, especially little children. Your piece of metal can be repaired or replaced but the trauma on a little kid can last a lifetime," he said.