A day after the 2009 world under 23 mountainbike champion Burry Stander was killed in a traffic accident, it has been confirmed that the driver of the taxi which hit him will be charged with his death.
The 25 year old rider was returning from a training ride in Shelley Beach on the KwaZulu-Natal coast when the accident happened. It appears that the taxi turned across his path, colliding with the rider and taking his life.
According to News24, the police and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions spoke about the matter and a decision was taken to charge the driver with culpable homicide. Colonel Jay Naicker confirmed the news today, and the driver will appear before Port Shepstone Magistrate's Court on Monday.
According to Durban's Daily News, eyewitness Kevin Govender said that Stander's family and wife were at the scene very soon after the crash.
He said that the taxi driver was confused and that it ‘seemed like he did not know what to do.’
“He told me it was his bad luck and said that he had not seen the cyclist and did not know how the accident happened,” he said.
Stander’s passing has led to tributes throughout the sport, with many top riders expressing their sympathies and sense of loss. Others from cycling also did likewise. A group ride will be held in the area this weekend to commemorate his memory.
Stander won two editions of the Cape Epic race with racing partner Christop Sauser. He was fifth in the 2012 Olympic Games cross country event.