By Bongani Magasela
Three people, including a baby, died on Thursday after their car collided head-on with a vehicle driven by WBO middleweight boxing champion Harry Simon in the vicinity of Long Beach between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay in Namibia.
Chief Inspector Sydney Philander of the Namibian Police told the Namibian Press Agency (Nampa) that the accident occurred when Simon, heading towards Swakopmund, allegedly tried to overtake two vehicles, while an oncoming car was approaching.
Simon, a Namibian national and his passenger were seriously injured and admitted to the Welwitchia Hospital but were later transferred to Cape Town's Panaroma Medi Clinic.
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| The WBO champion was allegedly intoxicated while behind the wheel |
Simons's manager Ellison Hijarunguru said Simon sustained multiple injuries, breaking both his legs and an arm.
A 22-month-old baby died instantly, while an unidentified woman and a 35-year-old man, Fredrick Dewinder died later in the hospital.
Another motor vehicle accident involving Simon took place last year in which Siegfied Kessler and his wife Elke were burnt beyond recognition in the crash after their Mercedes Benz burst into flames.
Simon was behind the wheel of his Mercedes when he bumped Kessleris vehicle from behind at bottleneck speed on the outskirts of Swakopmund in April 2001.
After that accident the Kessler family filed charges against Simon and a murder docket was opened by police.
Approached for comment on the charges laid, Namibia police spokesperson Sergeant James Matengu told the Nampa that the old case was still on the court roll. But he was not certain when the case would be heard in court.
Nampa told Sapa on Sunday that Simon's blood sample had been taken to check for any alcohol.
Erongo Regional Police Commander Andrew Iiyambo told Nampa that Simonis blood was checked at the scene following the accident and the results would be revealed as soon as the investigation was completed.
According to Nampa, the WBO champion was allegedly intoxicated while behind the wheel of his posh ML 320 Mercedes Benz which was damaged beyond repair.
Simon was trained by Brian Mitchell, dethroned, then feared American Ronald Wright of his WBO junior middleweight title at the Carousel in Hammanskraal in 1998.
The boxer who is affectionately known as "The Terminator" and made three defences, left Mitchell and moved up to the middleweight division where he claimed the vacant WBO crown which he has defended once.
The undefeated Namibian whose talent is honed by Auriel Malatje from the Limpopo was earmarked for a unification bout with Bernard Hopkins, who holds the WBC, WBA and IBF titles. - Sapa
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