Shocking discovery over flying car battery that killed South African motorist

Police in Westville, KwaZulu-Natal have uncovered shocking new information surrounding a freak accident that occurred in September that claimed the life of a 62-year-old motorist.

As per Captain Elizabeth Squires, Westville SAPS Communications Officer, the battery that fatally struck Madhumathie Bunwarie on the N3 near Pavilion in September was not thrown from a bridge as previously suspected.

Instead, it came from a car that was involved in a violent crash on the opposite side of the road.

An eyewitness account

On 29 September 2024, 62-year-old Bunwarie and her family were on their way back to Pietermaritzburg after attending a funeral in Phoenix when a car battery suddenly flew towards their vehicle, broke the windshield, and fatally hit the elderly driver, Highway Mail reported.

Initial reports alleged that the battery was thrown from an overhead bridge as has happened in the past, which guided the police’s investigations in searching for a suspect. That was until an eyewitness came forward to debunk this theory.

Westville SAPS’ Squires said that the eyewitness was allegedly traveling in the same direction as the Bunwarie family in the car ahead of them and nearly fell victim to the flying battery themself.

“The witness indicated that he was travelling in the same direction but was in front of the family,” said Squires.

“The witness said a serious accident had just occurred on the opposite side of the road, and that due to the impact of the accident, the battery was flown from the vehicle, narrowly missing the witness but unfortunately hit the car behind him.”

To establish the credibility of this story, the investigating officer contacted all the neighbouring police stations to determine if any accidents other than Bunwarie’s had been reported in the same location at that time, but unfortunately, no reports had been made.

“He was informed that the injured occupant was taken to hospital for treatment,” said Squires.

“The detective has made contact with the family of the injured person, and it has been established that the driver is in a critical condition in a local hospital.”