Five people have been killed on train tracks in less than three weeks on the Cape Flats.
In the latest shocking incident, three men died after they thought they could “beat” an oncoming train when crossing a railway line.
Police say the trio failed to adhere to the train driver’s warning siren, and was hit by the train as they tried to run over the track between Netreg and Heideveld stations.
The incident happened during peak hour on Friday morning just after 6.10am.
The unidentified men, aged between 27 and 32 years old, were instantly killed.
Lieutenant Ian Bennett of Manenberg police explains: “The train driver saw them on the tracks as they crossed and he blew his horn but they didn’t take note and just crossed. They were killed instantly.
“People misjudge the speed of the train thinking they can make it. They take a chance. The other issue is that they walk with headphones while crossing the tracks and they do not hear the trains.”
On Thursday, Bokmakierie ouma Susan Smith, 70, died hours after both her arms and legs were sliced off by a train at Athlone station.
And on June 22, Jason Carelse, 13, and his friend Charles Gates, 16, were struck by a train at a level crossing between Retreat and Steenberg Station as they tried to cross it on their bike.
Charles died while Jason’s leg was amputated.