The tragic death of a policeman in a horrible accident outside Kroonstad sent shockwaves through the Kroonstad community.
Sgt Ishmael Morake (37), a member of the Highway Patrol in Kroonstad, was on duty on Monday, 17 April, attending to an accident on the N1-road at about 18:15 when a truck plowed through the accident scene and killed Morake and a woman.
The accident was about 15 km towards Kroonstad from Ventersburg on the N1-road and the Fezile Dabi District Highway patrol members attended to the accident.
Two vehicles, a Ford Ranger bakkie and a Volvo truck, were involved, with no injuries.
Due to debris on the road, the members assisted in regulating the traffic when a white Isuzu truck plowed through the accident scene hitting Morake and a 34-year-old female, who was a passenger in the bakkie.
Emergency personnel was called and both Morake and the woman were declared dead on the scene. The Kroonstad police are investigating two cases of culpable homicide and no one has been arrested yet.
“Today we woke up to the sad news of the passing of one of our members. I want to express my deepest condolences to the loved ones, friends, family, and colleagues of Sgt Morake as well as to the innocent member of the public who tragically died,” says Lt Gen. Baile Motswenyane, Provincial Commissioner of Police in the Free State.
