Drunk driver arrested on N2 after claiming he was looking for KFC
The motorist, who is from Limpopo and works as a rigger at a mine, was intercepted before he could cause a serious accident.
A drunk motorist, who believed he was on his way back to his Umhlanga hotel room, ended up travelling about 80km in the opposite direction before being arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol on the N2.
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport said the man was stopped by members of the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) from Park Rynie at about 8:30 am on Thursday after he was seen dangerously weaving between lanes.
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According to the department, the motorist, who is from Limpopo and works as a rigger at a mine, was intercepted before he could cause a serious accident.
Officials said the driver was struggling to stay in his lane and posed a danger to other road users.
When [questioned], and further reprimanded about his erratic driving, he pleaded with RTI, saying he had left his hotel in Umhlanga to buy KFC. He claimed with confidence that he was on his way back to his room to sleep.
However, RTI officers informed him that he was travelling south and was heading towards Port Shepstone.
“Despite RTI informing him that he was driving in a southerly direction, he insisted that he was driving north. In fact, he was 80 kilometres away from Umhlanga and heading toward Port Shepstone,” the department said.
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The department said the intervention may have prevented a serious crash.
“Had RTI failed to remove him from the road, his erratic driving would have resulted in a head-on collision, a rear-end crash, or a sideswipe — with the [potential] loss of innocent lives.”
The department added that alcohol-related crashes continue to claim lives on KZN roads.
“We have in the past witnessed eight to ten family members being wiped out in horrific road accidents along the N2. These were caused by motorists driving under the influence of alcohol.”
The motorist is expected to appear in the Scottburgh Magistrate’s Court.
