Hit-and-run victim back on his feet

The life of a Simon’s Town cyclist has changed irrevocably after he was involved in a hit-and-run accident.

Dewald van der Westhuizen, 26, spent one month in hospital and had five surgeries after an alleged drunk driver crashed into him while he and his coach, Mike Moriarty, were training for a triathlon on Thursday December 21 on Simon’s Town Main Road.

The incident, which was captured on CCTV camera, showed how a white VW Polo smashed into Mr Van der Westhuizen, causing him and his coach to fall to the ground, before speeding off.

The impact of the crash caused extensive damage to Mr Van der Westhuizen’s right calf.

After leaving hospital, Mr Van der Westhuizen needed months of painful rehabilitation before he could walk again.

Mr Moriarty, who escaped with a few cuts and bruises, previously told the Echo that the driver had sped off, then stopped about 100 metres down the road, gotten out of his car and looked at them (“Long road to recovery for hit-n-run cyclist,” Echo, January 11).

“I don’t remember the impact. It was like being in a vivid dream. I was in and out of consciousness, and then I remember coming to and seeing my leg,” said Mr Van der Westhuizen.

A member of the South African Navy, Able Seaman Garth Pasha, 27, was arrested in Fish Hoek later that morning.

He appeared in the Simon’s Town Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday December 27, facing charges of attempted murder, reckless and negligent driving, and driving under the influence.

He was granted bail of R5 000, and his driver’s licence was confiscated.

One of his bail conditions was that he could not drive while the case was under investigation, and he has yet to plead.

He has since been suspended from work pending the outcome of the investigation.

Mr Van der Westhuizen was rushed to Vincent Pallotti Hospital where he was operated on.

The procedures he underwent during his one-month hospital stay included wound debridement, muscle reattachments and a skin graph, which he said was the “most painful procedure of all.”

He said that since the accident, he had not been able to do any physical activity and would probably never cycle again.

He said he used to surf about three times a week and loved hiking and running.

While in hospital, he said, he lost about 20kg and his legs were skin and bones.

He said he was told that he would be discharged as soon as he could walk and recalls sitting up for the first time after being in bed for almost a month.

“It was the strangest feeling. You want to just step down from your bed and walk, but I literally couldn’t do it. They had to help me out of bed.”

While he is back on his feet, he said he could not stand for long periods due to a lower back injury from the accident, and he struggled with swelling in his foot and leg. He is also not able to bend down on his haunches.

Mr Van der Westhuizen’s family appointed a lawyer, Advocate Hansie Linde, in the capacity of "watching brief" to assist the family in understanding and navigating the criminal justice process and to assist in liaising with the police.

Mr Linde said the Simon’s Town Magistrate’s Court ruled on Friday May 24 that Mr Pasha could have his driver’s licence back, and the matter was postponed to Friday June 28 for final investigation.

Mr Van der Westhuizen said while he had not attended any of the court proceedings, he felt that the actions of the accused had almost cost him his life and that he should not be allowed to drive.

“He has shown no remorse for what he has done,” he said.

Mr Pasha’s lawyer, Andrew Joyce, declined to comment, adding that the matter was still under investigation and therefore pending.

Mr Linde said the pace of the investigation was slow and some evidence had not yet been investigated.

He said he had written to the police district commander to address the issues.