Today in History: Drag race near Mabopane kills four, critically injures more
Two more would die from their injuries following the accident,
Long before the Odi airstrip was turned into the Odi Raceway, illegal drag races were the norm at the abandoned airstrip, but one turned deadly 14 years ago, when four bystanders were killed in an accident that took place on the scene.
The day was simply meant to be a relaxed Sunday evening for between 1 000 and 1 500 spectators who had come to drink, listen to music and watch about 20 drivers burn rubber at the Odi airstrip in Kgabalatsane Village, which is just outside Mabopane. The fun day out became a tragedy, however, when a car which was racing down the track swerved to avoid another car suspected to have been doing doughnuts on the track.
A small crowd had gathered around the car doing doughnuts to witness the spectacle when the second car crashed into them, killing four of the spectators and critically injuring another three. The injured were taken to the George Mukhari hospital in Ga-Rankuwa township, where they would hopefully be treated for their injuries.
Sadly however, one would die the next day due to multiple fractures, while a second would die on Tuesday, 10 August from multiple injuries, bring the total death toll from the accident to six.
North West police spokesperson at the time, Inspector Matthews Nkoadi, said that the 27-year-old driver of the car which collided with the spectators escaped injury, but was arrested on charges of culpable homicide. “The Odi race track used to be an airport but it’s no longer in use. Apparently these drivers have some agreement with the village chief to use the track, but it’s the first time that there’s been an accident in a year,” Nkoadi said at the time.
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