Johannesburg - The motorcyclist critically injured when robbers crashed into vehicles and his motorbike during a shootout with police in Hurlingham, Randburg, has died.
DA Joburg City Councillor David Potter has confirmed it. He said that he received a message from a local community group that the motorcyclist had died.
Gauteng police spokesman Captain Tsekiso Mofokeng said on Friday morning that until he was sure the family were informed he could not reveal further information
The shooting at the intersection of Republic Road and Woodlands Avenue, which happened shortly after noon on Thursday, left one robber dead. The robbers’ Renault flipped and crashed into other vehicles and a motorbike, leaving several people including the motorcyclist injured.
The Renault driver died in the car.
According to Emer-G-Med spokesman Maxwell Cohen, the men were fleeing from police.
“The robbers crashed into four vehicles and a motorbike. A shootout between police and the suspects then ensued.”
Mofokeng said the cops had spotted the robbers’ car and the “suspects tried to speed away when they realised they were being followed.
“They crashed into several cars and opened fire on police who then retaliated. One suspect escaped, one was killed and two others were injured. They were taken to hospital under police guard.”
One of the robbers was shot in the right thigh.
Cohen said the biker, who was in a critical condition, was placed on a ventilator before he was airlifted to hospital.
Traffic was disrupted as William Nicol, parts of Republic Road and Woodlands Avenue were closed.
Mofokeng said that police were still investigating the chain reaction that took place when the robbers hit the cars and the motorcycle.
He said two unlicensed firearms were recovered and a hunt had been launched for the fourth suspect.
The Star