Warrant Officer S Mabuya, who was stationed at the Somerset West SAPS, was driving a white VW Golf when his car rolled and he was flung from the vehicle.
It is not yet clear what had led to the officer losing control of his vehicle, or whether any other vehicles were involved.
However, police are investigating a case of culpable homicide.
It was confirmed that the vehicle was registered in his name and that he was not on duty when the incident occurred.
Police officers were the first on the scene and the two attending officers found Mabuya lying on his back in the road.
At the time, he was conscious, his nose was bleeding, but he was unable to speak.
ROLLED: Officer flung from car
An ambulance was dispatched and he was sped to the Vincent Pallotti hospital for treatment.
However, after more than six hours of fighting for his life, officer Mabuya passed away just before 8am yesterday.
Provincial police spokesperson Sergeant Angeline Grill confirms the police officer died in a car crash, and an investigation was underway to ascertain the cause of the accident.
“This office can confirm that a motor vehicle accident involving a police official occurred at 1.35am yesterday. The police official succumbed to his injuries in hospital. A culpable homicide case is being investigated,” says Grill.