Body spotted in boot turns out to be drunk man catching a ride

Authorities were on high alert after a motorist alerted a local security company to what had appeared to be a body lying in the boot of white Toyota Etios in Umdloti on Sunday evening.

Prem Balram from Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) said they sprang into action to trace the reported vehicle in Verulam and Umdloti – but eventually discovered that it was an intoxicated man, who was put into the vehicle’s boot by his equally drunk friends, as they had no additional place in the car for him to be seated in.

“We received the report at about 18:47 on Sunday from a family that had been following a white Toyota Etios on the Umdloti Beach road near the Verulam Testing Ground – when they noticed the boot lid pop open when the vehicle hit a speed bump. The family, whose details are being withheld, were following closely behind and said they saw a man wearing a striped green shirt lying motionless inside the trunk. At the second speed bump the boot partially closed. Fearing for their safety the family slowed their vehicle down and then drove in the direction of Umdloti Beach.

“Minutes later they spotted the same vehicle stopped at the red robot at the intersection of Ottawa Old Main Road and the Umdloti Beach Road. The passenger then took out a photograph of the car and number plate,” said Mr Balram.

He said upon contact, reaction officers launched a search for the vehicle and shared the information with other law enforcement officers.

Later that evening, Mr Balram said he was contacted by a petrol attendant who confirmed that she had filled fuel in that vehicle at about 6.40pm.

“She further explained that she had seen an intoxicated man in the trunk. She had spoken to him and he informed her that his friends had placed him in the trunk of the Toyota Etios because the vehicle was fully loaded. He then passed out. According to the petrol attendant, all occupants of the vehicle were highly intoxicated,” said Mr Balram.