The tranquil village of Hopefield was overnight struck by two tragic accidents that claimed the lives of two people. Yesterday, the nine year old Meeca Lewis (photo) tragically drowned while swimming with a friend at the Hopefield Chalets, and this morning a young mine worker died in a collision with a farm truck at the entrance to the Elandsfontein/Kropz mine.
Hopefield emergency worker Heidi Kotze and her sister were summoned to the chalets yesterday around 15h00 where she tried in vain to resuscitate the young Meeca. The paramedics arrived soon afterwards, but it was too late. Still shaky and sad after the tragedy, Heidi said they tried everything to save the young girl’s live, but it was to no avail. “It was especially traumatic for my sister who has never dealt with such a tragic situation before,”she said.
According to Hopefield Police chief, capt. GJI Adams, this morning’s fatal accident outside the mine entrance claimed the life of Jerome January, who originally comes from Cape Town and now works at the mine. The deceased apparently came from the direction of Vredenburg and collided with an oncoming farm truck when he crossed the road to the mine’s entrance. It is not sure whether he was blinded by the sun or misjudged the speed and distance of the oncoming truck when he swerved right into it. The truck driver was not seriously injured.
The accident caused quite a stir on social media as the mine entrance is considered to be at a dangerous place due to the increased traffic on the R45.
