Axe-Wielding Suspect Killed in Attempted Robbery

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Police in Hazyview have launched an investigation into an attempted robbery following the death of a man who allegedly tried to attack a truck driver with an axe.

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The incident occurred on April 18 at the De Rust crossing along the R40 road. According to a sworn affidavit by the 32-year-old truck driver, the attacker emerged from nearby bushes as the truck turned toward White River.

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“As I was turning, I saw someone running from the bushes like he was crossing the road, so I slowed down,” the driver stated. He said the suspect suddenly smashed the passenger window and clung to the truck’s side mirror, demanding cash and a cellphone while wielding an axe.

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Fearing for his life, the driver sped up and swerved the truck to shake off the attacker. “I heard a loud noise from the back trailers but kept driving,” he explained.

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After finding a safe spot to turn around, the driver returned to the scene and discovered the suspect lying lifeless on the road with the axe beside him. He immediately called the police.

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Brigadier Donald Mdhluli, spokesperson for the provincial police, confirmed that paramedics declared the man dead at the scene. “We are investigating a case of attempted armed robbery as well as another case to determine the exact cause of the suspect’s death,” Mdhluli said.

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The suspect’s identity remains unknown and will be part of the ongoing investigation. The axe used in the attempted robbery was seized by authorities as evidence.

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