I’m not guilty, says Alberton crash driver

Scene of the horror multiple car pile up that was alledgedly caused by a speeding runaway truck on the N12 East near the Voortrekker off ramp, Alberton. Picture: Antoine de Ras, 14 oct 2014

Scene of the horror multiple car pile up that was alledgedly caused by a speeding runaway truck on the N12 East near the Voortrekker off ramp, Alberton. Picture: Antoine de Ras, 14 oct 2014

Published Oct 22, 2014

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Johannesburg - The driver whose truck ploughed into almost 50 vehicles, killing three people, believes he is not guilty, the Palm Ridge Magistrate's Court heard on Wednesday.

This was revealed in Isaac Wade Maruding's affidavit which was read to the court. He faces three charges of culpable homicide and a single charge of reckless or negligent driving.

He ploughed into early morning traffic in Alberton last week, killing three people, and is a flight risk, the Palm Ridge Magistrate's Court heard on Wednesday.

Opposing his bid for bail, prosecutor John Ntuli said Isaac Wade Maruding left the accident scene without reporting the matter to the police.

"We are going to argue that he left that scene. His action amounts to evasion. He fled the scene," Ntuli said.

Maruding was arrested in Potchefstroom a day after the accident on the N12 near Alberton on October 14 which left three people dead.

Ntuli said releasing him would undermine the justice system.

Ntuli said there was a likelihood that if released, Maruding would endanger the safety of the public.

“He uses his (driver's) licence as his livelihood,” said Ntuli.

He had previously been convicted of reckless or negligent driving and culpable homicide. Releasing him on bail would send the wrong message to previous offenders.

The court earlier heard that Maruding was convicted of these charges while he worked as a taxi driver in the 1990s.

Maruding was arrested on October 15 after his truck ploughed into about 47 vehicles in early morning traffic the previous day, killing three people and injuring 16.

Maruding faces three counts of culpable homicide and one of reckless or negligent driving.

He was applying for bail. - Sapa

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