Taxi chase through city ends in gunfire

AN accident between two taxis in Windhoek yesterday morning provided for high drama when one driver was apparently forced to shoot the other’s tyre out in an attempt to get his co-operation in sorting out their differences.

At around 11h00, a white Nissan Sentra and a dark metallic Toyota Corolla apparently collided in John Meinert Street, with both cars suffering slight damage. The two drivers then drove to the workplace of the Nissan’s owner, who had them exchange contact numbers and get quotations for repairs.However, when the driver of the Nissan later tried to get hold of the other man at the address in Katutura he had given, he says the people living there said they did not know who he was talking about.He then started driving through the streets of Windhoek looking for the other driver.Coincidentally, the two cars crossed paths at around 13h30, almost at the exact spot where they had the accident earlier in the day.The Nissan driver then apparently pulled out a pistol and shot out the rear left tyre of the Corolla, which prompted the Toyota driver to speed off.The car chase that ensued ended on the corner of Mandume Ndemufayo and Hochland Road, when the Corolla’s driver lost control and ended up on the pavement, taking out the two front wheels as well.A traffic officer who arrived on the scene shortly afterwards remained with the group for roughly an hour, trying to get members of the Namibian Police force to assist him.By time of deadline, it could not be confirmed whether the shooter had been arrested.City Police spokesperson Marx Hipandwa, when contacted later in the afternoon, said the case had not been reported to the City Police.The two drivers then drove to the workplace of the Nissan’s owner, who had them exchange contact numbers and get quotations for repairs.However, when the driver of the Nissan later tried to get hold of the other man at the address in Katutura he had given, he says the people living there said they did not know who he was talking about.He then started driving through the streets of Windhoek looking for the other driver.Coincidentally, the two cars crossed paths at around 13h30, almost at the exact spot where they had the accident earlier in the day.The Nissan driver then apparently pulled out a pistol and shot out the rear left tyre of the Corolla, which prompted the Toyota driver to speed off.The car chase that ensued ended on the corner of Mandume Ndemufayo and Hochland Road, when the Corolla’s driver lost control and ended up on the pavement, taking out the two front wheels as well.A traffic officer who arrived on the scene shortly afterwards remained with the group for roughly an hour, trying to get members of the Namibian Police force to assist him.By time of deadline, it could not be confirmed whether the shooter had been arrested.City Police spokesperson Marx Hipandwa, when contacted later in the afternoon, said the case had not been reported to the City Police.