Johannesburg - A shot-out red Volkswagen GTI sat on the side of the highway with the main suspect lying on the ground handcuffed next to it.
There was glass and petrol on the M1 South as police vehicles cordoned off the area.
Gunshots continued to ring out from the other side of the highway after journalists arrived on the scene.
On Wednesday, a car chase and shootout that began on Marlboro Drive ended just after the Grayston Drive off-ramp.
Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Lungelo Dlamini said members of the Sandton Field Unit were on routine patrol when they spotted a suspicious red VW in Sandton City.
“When they tried to stop the vehicle at Marlboro Drive and Old Pretoria Road, the vehicle with two occupants sped off,” Dlamini said.
“The occupants in the vehicle fired shots at the police and police shot back until the driver lost control of the vehicle.”
One of the occupants jumped out of the vehicle and ran away on foot while continuing to shoot at the police who were chasing him.
A witness, who had stopped on the highway during the chaos, said: “Police jumped the barrier and chased after him but were unable to catch him. Cars were reversing as the shots rang out, afraid to get caught up in the crossfire.”
Another witness, who had been parked at a traffic light, said the red car had woven between two lanes of cars as the police chased it onto the highway.
“The gunmen crashed into my car on their way onto the highway,” he said.
Dlamini said police suspected the vehicle was stolen.
“We recovered a pistol and ammunition for an AK47.”
Dlamini said there was a manhunt under way to find the second suspect.
“The arrested suspect will be charged with attempted murder, possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition and possession of suspected stolen vehicle,” he added.
As one of the reporters arrived at the scene, she nearly stood on a bullet casing, prompting the police to shout “Stop!” out of fear she would contaminate the scene.
The Star