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Johannesburg - A Gauteng athlete is in the intensive care unit of an Alberton hospital after being hit by an alleged drunk driver while taking part in a road race on Sunday.
Netwerk24 reported on Tuesday that Hayley Ryan, 41, a member of the Roodepoort Athletics Club, was participating in the Colgate Road Race in Boksburg when a blue VW Golf tried to overtake another vehicle on Atlas Road and drove into the athletes.
A lane of the road had been cordoned off with traffic cones, and athletes were running against the traffic.
A fellow member of the athletics club, George Niemandt, witnessed the accident, saying the driver hit Hayley and continued driving. "It was basically a hit-and-run accident," he said.
Two other motorists gave chase and forced the Golf to stop. Niemandt said the driver of the Golf smelled of alcohol and "his focus was completely out". Three other men were in the vehicle with him, and Niemandt saw an open can of beer.
Hayley was airlifted to hospital with critical injuries and underwent surgery.
Meanwhile, Haley's 8-year-old daughter is currently in another hospital with a chest infection. Her husband, Gareth, said the past two days have been a nightmare, driving between hospitals. But the most important thing is that Hayley is still alive, he said.
An Ekurhuleni metro police spokesperson confirmed that the driver was arrested and faces charges of drunken driving, reckless or negligent driving and attempting to flee the scene.
