Tour cyclist killed in hit-and-run accident
Randall February, who rode in the Cape Town Cycle Tour six times, was flung 60 metres after being struck by a car near Thornton.
|||Cape Town - Randall February, who rode in the Cape Town Cycle Tour six times, was fondly remembered by his friends and teammates after he was killed in a hit-and-run accident at the weekend.
The 40-year-old IT technician and father of three was flung 60 metres after being struck by a car near Thornton on Sunday.
His friend and teammate Oscar Cloete said he was still in shock and was finding it difficult to come to terms with February’s death.
“He was a good friend of mine and I was there yesterday until the mortuary van came to get his body.”
Cloete said he heard about the accident shortly after it happened and rushed to the scene.
“There are just no words I can use to describe how I feel. I knew him for about 10 years and he was very passionate about cycling. He was a late bloomer in cycling, but over the last couple of years he became more passionate than us.”
Cloete said the driver was possibly speeding and trying to beat a red traffic light when he struck February.
“He went to the police station and he gave a different tale of events, probably for insurance purposes.”
Wayne Southgate, who said he knew February for eight years, said they were inseparable and competed in races, including the Cape Town Cycle Tour.
Southgate said he last saw February on Saturday when they cycled to Paarl.
“I will miss his kindness, he always used to help others. He was one hell of a guy.”
He said he was still coming to terms with his friend’s death.
“I am trying to get the image of him lying on the side of the road covered in a blanket out of my head.
“I cannot believe that a person did that and just drove away.”
Police spokesman Captain FC van Wyk said a culpable homicide case was being investigated
Van Wyk said the driver fled the scene and was arrested.
He is due to appear in court soon.
February leaves behind his wife, a two-year-old son and two young daughters.
yolisa.tswanya@inl.co.za
Cape Argus