A 39-year-old taxi driver has been arrested after allegedly knocking down a runner during the Soweto Marathon on Saturday.
The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) says the incident happened near the intersection of the Soweto Highway and Main Road/Mooki Street in Orlando East.
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“It is alleged that the driver of the taxi attempted to flee the scene following the accident, but was swiftly apprehended before he could escape.
“Upon apprehension, the driver was immediately suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and was subjected to a breathalyser test.
“The test confirmed the suspicion, yielding a reading of 0.26 mg/l. This reading is significantly over the legal limit of 0.10 mg/l prescribed for professional drivers in South Africa,” JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla detailed.
The runner, a 45-year-old woman, is said to have sustained serious injuries and was immediately transported to Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital for urgent medical attention.
The driver has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and other traffic violations.