A smashed bumper, shards of plastic and glass, and a crumpled number plate strewn near the base of a home’s broken wall painted a picture of the tragedy that occurred hours earlier.
When a Westering home owner returned home from work on Tuesday night, the frightening sight of her wall reduced to rubble, and two bodies and a dead dog lying on the pavement, sent her into a frenzy.
Husband and wife Manfred and Leigh Meyer were never apart, and in a freak accident on Tuesday night they died together, along with their beloved dog.
While they were walking their pet brindle staffy at about 6.30pm, a car veered off the road and slammed into them before crashing into a brick wall.
It is understood the driver had suffered a seizure behind the wheel, causing him to lose control of the vehicle.
When The Herald visited the scene in Warbler Street on Wednesday morning, all that remained of the accident were smears of blood, a shattered bumper, scraps of the VW Golf TDI, and a brick wall that had collapsed from the force of the impact.
Police spokesperson Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg said the VW had ploughed into the couple.
“Kabega Park detectives are investigating a culpable homicide case following a fatal accident where two pedestrians died on Tuesday in the Taybank [Westering] area,” she said.
“The two pedestrians, a husband and wife, were walking their dog in Warbler Street.
“It is alleged that the driver of a VW Golf TDI suffered a medical condition while driving in Warbler Street, in the direction of Westering, and collided with the couple who passed away at the scene.
“The driver of the VW and his passenger were taken to hospital for treatment.”
She said Manfred was 42 and Leigh was 39.
Manfred worked for the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality’s IT department.
By Wednesday, tributes to the couple had started pouring in on social media.
According to preliminary reports, the couple were walking their dog when the driver, whose name is known to The Herald, allegedly had a seizure, prompting his 19-year-old daughter to try to take control of the wheel.
The car then smashed into the couple.
At the time of publication, the father and daughter were still at Greenacres Hospital.
On Wednesday morning, anguished sobs rang out at the Mount Road mortuary as relatives identified the bodies of the Meyer couple.
They were too distraught to speak to the media.
A detective was seen consoling family members inside.
Meanwhile, back at the scene of the crash, a section of a brick wall belonging to a housing complex, Karilzé Villas, was smashed to pieces, with chunks of brick and dust scattered across the pavement.
The impact had torn a wide gap in the boundary wall, leaving a townhouse exposed.
Smears of blood marked the grass on the pavement.
Parts of the wrecked VW Golf TDI were still at the scene.
A friend of the Meyers, who was at the scene of the aftermath, said they had been friends for many years.
She declined to be named.
“They were good people and always together, always walking the dog,” she said.
“You could tell they loved each other so much. I don’t think I ever saw one without the other.”
The friend said she was still in shock.
“They were just going for a walk like they always did. It could’ve been anyone but it happened to be them.
“You don’t realise how quickly things can change. One minute you’re living your life, the next it’s over.
“I just can’t stop thinking about how sudden it must’ve been.”
She said they were friendly people.
“Leigh was a people’s person, so polite and warm. And Manfred, he always had time for a hello. They were soft people. Gentle. That’s the word, gentle.”
The owner of the house where the brick wall was smashed said she and her mother were still in shock.
Nomphumelo Dyani said when she returned from work at about 6.40pm, she saw bodies on the pavement and a dog by the gate.
“I just stood there for a moment, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. It was a mess.
“You never think something like this could happen in your own street, let alone at your own home. You hear about things like this on the news.
“My mom and I have lived here for years. In fact, my mom was here when it happened.”
She said because the wall was broken, they felt unsafe.
“I’m still trying to process it.”
The Animal Anti-Cruelty League’s Beverley Rademeyer said they removed the dog from the scene after receiving a call from a traffic official.
She said the dog was a six-year-old brindle male staffy named Flash.
“We removed his body and took him to be cremated today [Wednesday],” Rademeyer said.
“It was such an emotional scene to see bodies covered in blanket foil.”
Bay corporate services political head Khusta Jack said his directorate was responsible for the IT department where Manfred worked.
He said they were saddened by Manfred’s sudden death.
“Things are already hard as they are. To have this kind of an accident brought into people’s lives ... it affects families deeply,” Jack said.
“What I can say is that we, as the municipality, will certainly convey our condolences on behalf of the entire institution.
“We truly value our employees, especially those who have served with such diligence, dedication and commitment to both the municipality and the community.”
The Herald
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.