The prisoners from Delft holding cells were heading to Bellville Magistrate's Court via Symphony Way.
The accident happened at the Stellenbosch Arterial intersection on Monday.
According to witnesses, the last vehicle in the six-car police convoy collided with a Toyota Raider bakkie and trailer, and the van which had eight prisoners inside flipped on its side.
Gail du Toit, 37, from Belhar says she heard the crash and ran out, worried that it might be her child’s school transport.
“I just ran and the van was standing on its side. Toe ek eers so kyk, toe sien ek net polisie,” she says.
“There were five or six vehicles in the original convoy, but toe is daar soema amper30. Like those poor people [inmates] were going to run anywhere,” says Gail.
She says officers checked on the overturned van and prevented people from approaching the vehicle.
“Anyone who wanted to take pictures, was chased off.
“I saw 16 men with different types of injuries sitting on the side of the road, but only three who were badly injured were taken in the ambulance.”
SCENE: Three bandiete were seriously injured as a cop convoy crashed on Stellenbosch Arterial
Police spokesperson, Captain FC van Wyk, confirms: “A police vehicle transporting awaiting trial prisoners to Bellville Court on Monday collided with a privately owned vehicle at the robot intersection and landed on its side. At the time of the incident the vehicle was transporting eight awaiting [trial] prisoners to court and as a result of the impact, three prisoners were slightly injured,” he says.
“No awaiting trial prisoners escaped from custody during the incident and the drivers of both vehicles sustained minor injuries. The three injured prisoners were transported to a nearby medical facility for medical treatment.”
He said a case of reckless and negligent driving was being investigated, but did not indicate against whom.
“Anyone with information about this incident is requested to contact
Captain Ivan Williams on
082 777 4571 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.”