The motorist whose vehicle went over the edge of Chapman’s Peak Drive and crashed onto rocks about 100 metres below will face criminal charges, despite surviving the dramatic incident.
The crash happened on Sunday morning shortly after 9am on the Noordhoek side of the scenic coastal route in the Western Cape. The vehicle, believed to be a VW Golf GTI, veered off the roadway on the seaside edge and plunged down the cliff face.
Emergency services rushed to the scene and the road was closed for several hours while rescue operations were carried out. One occupant was removed from the wreckage and transported to hospital, while another person was treated on site. Both escaped with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
Western Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed that Fish Hoek police have opened a case of reckless and negligent driving.
“Preliminary information indicates that the driver lost control of the vehicle before leaving the road,” Twigg said. “The driver sustained injuries and was taken to a medical facility for treatment. The matter is under investigation.”
Police have appealed to anyone with information related to the crash to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or to submit tips anonymously via the MySAPS mobile application.
Chapman’s Peak Drive has a long history of serious and sometimes fatal accidents. In April 2021, a cyclist survived a 30-metre fall after crashing along the same route and was rescued by Wilderness Search and Rescue using a helicopter. Paramedics stabilised him before he was airlifted to safety.
Just a month earlier, a woman died and her companion was critically injured when their car plunged roughly 200 metres off the mountain pass.
One of the most well-known incidents dates back to 1988, when Christopher White survived after his Mercedes-Benz fell about 100 metres onto the rocks below - an accident that has since become part of Chapman’s Peak lore.
Authorities continue to warn motorists to exercise extreme caution when travelling along the iconic but dangerous road.
The crash happened on Sunday morning shortly after 9am on the Noordhoek side of the scenic coastal route in the Western Cape. The vehicle, believed to be a VW Golf GTI, veered off the roadway on the seaside edge and plunged down the cliff face.
Emergency services rushed to the scene and the road was closed for several hours while rescue operations were carried out. One occupant was removed from the wreckage and transported to hospital, while another person was treated on site. Both escaped with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
Western Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg confirmed that Fish Hoek police have opened a case of reckless and negligent driving.
“Preliminary information indicates that the driver lost control of the vehicle before leaving the road,” Twigg said. “The driver sustained injuries and was taken to a medical facility for treatment. The matter is under investigation.”
Police have appealed to anyone with information related to the crash to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or to submit tips anonymously via the MySAPS mobile application.
Chapman’s Peak Drive has a long history of serious and sometimes fatal accidents. In April 2021, a cyclist survived a 30-metre fall after crashing along the same route and was rescued by Wilderness Search and Rescue using a helicopter. Paramedics stabilised him before he was airlifted to safety.
Just a month earlier, a woman died and her companion was critically injured when their car plunged roughly 200 metres off the mountain pass.
One of the most well-known incidents dates back to 1988, when Christopher White survived after his Mercedes-Benz fell about 100 metres onto the rocks below - an accident that has since become part of Chapman’s Peak lore.
Authorities continue to warn motorists to exercise extreme caution when travelling along the iconic but dangerous road.
