Authorities investigate after a motorist is killed by a brick thrown from a bridge on the N1 South (Western Bypass). Picture Credit: Wikimedia
By Aisha Zardad
Gauteng – A shocking and deadly road-crime incident on one of South Africa’s busiest highways has reignited concerns over public safety and criminal conduct targeting motorists.
On 30 December 2025, a motorist travelling on the N1 South between the Maraisburg and N17 off-ramps in Gauteng was fatally injured after a brick was deliberately thrown from an overpass onto the highway, smashing through the windscreen of the vehicle and causing immediate, catastrophic injuries to the driver. The deceased was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders.
According to reports from road safety group Arrive Alive, the collision occurred just after midnight on a poorly lit stretch of the freeway near 14th Avenue, where non-operational streetlights have left the area especially vulnerable to criminal activity. A silver Toyota was struck directly by the brick, which shattered the windscreen and inflicted fatal trauma on the driver. Fortunately, no other vehicles were reported to be involved or injured as a result of the thrown object.
Arrive Alive emphasised that this incident is not isolated — a similar brick-throwing attack was reported on the same bridge in June 2025, highlighting an ongoing pattern of dangerous behaviour that endangers innocent road users. The organisation condemned the act as a cowardly and life-threatening crime that warrants urgent intervention by authorities.
In its public statement, Arrive Alive also pointed to the lack of effective lighting and surveillance on the stretch of the N1 South as factors that may embolden individuals to carry out such attacks with reduced risk of detection. “How many more lives must be shattered before meaningful action — like increased patrols, barriers, or surveillance — puts an end to these cowardly attacks?” the group asked, urging government and law enforcement to act swiftly.
Road safety experts and law-enforcement officials stress that throwing objects from bridges or overpasses is a criminal offence with potentially fatal outcomes — not only for the direct victim but also for other road users who may be forced into dangerous swerving or collisions as a result. Safety advocates are calling for preventive measures such as improved lighting, CCTV installation, regular patrols, and physical deterrents to discourage similar acts in the future.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has opened an investigation while urging anyone with information, footage, or eyewitness accounts to come forward. Authorities reiterated that such attacks will be met with full legal consequences and that ensuring road-user safety remains a priority in Gauteng and across the national road network.
The tragedy on the N1 South serves as a stark reminder of the profound vulnerability motorists face from unpredictable acts of violence — and highlights the urgent need for enhanced infrastructure, policing, and community vigilance to protect lives on South Africa’s highways.
