MISA demands action after woman killed in Bedfordview rock-throwing incident

The Motor Industry Staff Association (MISA) has called for urgent action after a woman was found with serious head injuries when a rock was allegedly thrown through her car windscreen from a bridge in Bedfordview, Johannesburg.

What happened

Bedfordview SAPS received a complaint on Friday, and officers found the woman with serious head injuries inside her grey Honda, police spokesperson Captain Tintswalo Sibeko said. A large rock was reportedly thrown through the vehicle’s windscreen from the Van der Linde Bridge on the R24 near Bedfordview. A murder docket has been opened.

Sibeko said the windscreen and front bumper were damaged and a solid rock was found at the scene. She added that the impact is thought to have caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle, resulting in it crashing into the barriers.

MISA demands decisive response

Martle Keyter, MISA’s Chief Executive Officer: Operations, described rock throwing off bridges as “a deadly crime that destroys lives” and said “we cannot allow our roads to become killing fields.” She called for authorities to act decisively and for motorists to be empowered with knowledge to protect themselves.

“We will continue to advocate for stronger road safety measures and call on government and law enforcement to act now, before more lives are lost. This senseless act of violence is murder, and it must be treated with the seriousness it deserves,” Keyter said.

Keyter expressed concern about growing reports of rocks and other objects being hurled at vehicles. She said such attacks “instill fear in motorists, traumatize families, and destabilize communities” and that they “erode public confidence in road safety and place every driver and passenger at risk of serious injury or death.”

Suggested measures and advice

Keyter urged “urgent, visible action from authorities, road agencies, and law enforcement” and called for intensified patrols on roads where rock throwing is common. She suggested that surveillance infrastructure “including cameras, drones, and lighting” be installed and that warnings be placed on bridges where attacks are frequent.

Keyter also advised practical measures for motorists: “Drivers should change lanes before passing under bridges to reduce the chance of being targeted, remain alert and adjust speed cautiously when approaching known hotspots, and avoid stopping under bridges or in poorly lit areas where attackers may lie in wait.”

Community response

Mark Morris of the Residents Action Group (RAG) asked anyone who may have witnessed the incident or seen anything or anyone suspicious on the lower Van der Linde Road bridge where it crosses the R24 to contact them. RAG urged drivers to be alert when near bridges and to report suspicious people or activity, noting that “one report could help prevent another tragedy.”

Investigation underway

Police have opened a murder docket and are investigating the incident, authorities said.