Drunk-driving accused in crash that killed five kids gets bail

A man arrested on charges of drunken driving and culpable homicide following a bakkie crash that killed five children and injured six other people, near Brackenfell, on Sunday night, has been granted bail.

Adriaan Hanse, 40, appeared in the Blue Downs Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday charged with five counts of culpable homicide and driving under the influence of alcohol, said National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesman Eric Ntabazalila, said.

“This follows his arrest after a fatal accident near Brackenfell which took the lives of five children on Sunday evening. The accused, his wife and other occupants of the vehicle were driving from Ceres,” he said.

We previously reported that Titanium Securitas Medical Response team spokesman Kobus Kotze said it’s believed the driver lost control of the bakkie, which then hit a barrier (“Five children killed in bakkie crash,” July 11).

Mr Ntabazalila said the accused was granted R5 000 bail.

The case was postponed to August 18 for further investigation.