Cape Town - Armed robbers attacked an armoured cash-in-transit vehicle on the N2 early this morning, causing havoc on the key arterial route, which was littered with bullet casings.
Unrelated accidents on the highway this morning also contributed to rush hour chaos.
The armoured vehicle had picked up money from Cape Town International Airport and had been escorted by airport security guards to the Borchards Quarry Road onramp on the N2 when it was rammed by a white Mercedes Benz at around 2.30am.
The Mercedes Benz had been following the armoured vehicle.
Sources told the Cape Argus the armoured vehicle was flipped on its side by the impact.
Then the attackers rammed the over-turned vehicle a second time - presumably in a bid to “crack it open”.
The robbers opened fire on the armoured vehicle, and guards returned fire.
The attackers abandoned their vehicle and fled on foot, empty-handed, said police spokesman Captain FC van Wyk.
The police’s specialised investigative team dealing with organised crime, the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigation - the Hawks - were on the scene this morning and parts of the N2 were still cordoned off when morning rush hour began.
Anyone with information about the heist attempt is asked to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111, said Van Wyk.
- Not far away, near Vanguard Drive, a car and a taxi smashed, leaving the car on its roof.
Emergency Medical Services spokesman Darren Francis said a woman was taken to Groote Schuur, Hospital while another was taken to GF Jooste Hospital.
Also this morning, near Cape Town International Airport, a car was rear-ended and destroyed, causing further traffic delays.
Cape Argus