Sister tells of heartbreak as only brother, 21, dies in Higginson Highway crash

An Umhlatuzana woman said her brother was returning home when his car crashed near the Westcliff off-ramp and he went into cardiac arrest while being treated by paramedics.

Nakisha Pillay said Tyrese Anthone Pillay, a marketing student, was on his way to their Umhlatuzana home, when he allegedly crashed his Corsa into the railway tracks near the Westcliff off-ramp.

“It has been a difficult time. We lost my mum when Tyrese was two-years-old and our dad when he was 13. We were extremely close. 

“It still feels as if he is alive. It is hard to process that he is gone,” said Pillay.

She said her brother’s goal was to complete studying and make a success of his life.

“He was a good person who lived a simple life. He was introverted and preferred drawing, cooking and watching anime to partying. Losing her brother has been traumatising because it was just the two of us in our family,” she added.

Claude Subramodey, spokesperson for Amawele Emergency Services, said when they got to the scene, Tyrese’ vehicle was next to the railway line, and he was trapped in the vehicle.

“He was bleeding profusely from his head, and had deep lacerations to his face.

“While paramedics attended to him, he went into cardiac arrest and died at the accident scene,” Subramodey added.