From a local newspaper:
A young Phoenix man and his passenger died horrific deaths on Sunday when his car burst into flames in a crash which police say was linked to drag racing.
Leon Jagesur and a young woman, who has not been identified, were burnt beyond recognition on the M19 leading to Quarry Road early on Sunday.
Police said Jagesur was racing along a section of the M19 towards the N2 when he lost control of his BMW Z3 and slid into the middle island before slamming into a bridge pillar.
Police officers at the scene of the crash said several "spectators" reported the BMW had been racing with another vehicle at the time.
Inspector Bradley Meyer said: "When we arrived at the scene there were more than 150 spectators lining the road where the cars were racing past.
"We questioned several of them and were told that the car which crashed was involved in a race with another car."
Meyer said the other car had not stopped when the BMW had crashed and police were still looking for it.
Late on Sunday night police received a tip-off about a race scheduled to take place in Quarry Road, but when they arrived the racers were dispersing.
A qualified drag racer, Renelle Naidoo, who was at the scene of Sunday night's race, said: "Because the police arrived at Quarry Road, the (illegal) racers moved to Backstretch (on the M19) and Springfield Park where they continued to race."
Marge Jagesur, Leon's father, described his son as a stable, level-headed man who did not drink or smoke.
"Leon lived life to the fullest. He never back-chatted, was always smiling and he loved his cars. He was also a highly educated young man," he said.
Leon worked for BoE Bank as a chartered accountant, and lived with his family in Phoenix.
Jagesur said he did not know whether his son had been drag racing or just speeding.
Meyer and Inspector Suman Singh of the police accident response unit said the car - its number plate read ND 4 SPD ZN - hit the bridge with such force that both occupants were killed instantly.
Police believe Jagesur was travelling at a speed of at least 190km/h at the time of the crash. The woman's shoes and parts of the car were found more than 40 metres away from the scene.
The BMW was fitted with nitrous-oxide injectors.
"There was no way that anyone stood a chance of escaping alive," said Meyer.
At least eight people have died in crashes linked to drag races in the past year.
Authorities say despite campaigns to stop drag racing, there has been an upsurge in the dangerous pastime with unofficial tracks springing up in city centres throughout KwaZulu-Natal.
Six of the more popular drag racing areas in the province are in Pietermaritzburg, Ladysmith, two stretches of road on the N2 between Durban and Port Shepstone, and a stretch of road along the coast near Ballito.
Police have also received reports of drag racing between Johannesburg and Durban.
Traffic officials say these areas are difficult to police because the racers know when law enforcement agents have been tipped off.
Superintendent Vasie Naidu said she hoped Sunday's crash would serve as a warning to those participating in illegal drag races.
Vijen Murugan, speaking for the KwaZulu-Natal Road Traffic Inspectorate, said many dragsters had police scanners to serve as early warning systems.
"Motorists who allow themselves to be driven by speed are placing themselves at risk."
Drag racing, he said, was practised mainly by younger drivers with "big egos".
"Drag racing is also used to show off cars that have been modified."
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That's the influence of the American movie industry, from 'Rebel Without a Cause' to 'The Fast and The Furious' which has glamourised street racing (how many cafe waitresses look like Jordana Brewster?). The kids even try to drag race on Saturday nights in Denpasar on Bali.
The world's old macho sports like bullfighing are being legislated out of existance. Fortunately, we seen to have re-invented motorcycling, without any stateside influence.
HJ
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That Hollywood glamour doesn't quite come across when its a G reg Nova and an XR3i sitting at the traffic lights in Swanley.
Rob Cook
MKIV Supra (soon to be Nitroused)
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