Oscar Pistorius’ brother, Carl Pistorius, has been “badly hurt” in a car accident, his family said.
Local media report that Carl Pistorius is in ICU after a head-on collision near Pretoria.
The incident comes six days before Oscar Pistorius’ murder trial is set to resume.
During his murder trial, Oscar Pistorius denies killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, saying he shot her believing she was an intruder.
Carl Pistorius is in ICU after a head-on collision near Pretoria (photo EPA)
On Friday it was announced that Oscar Pistorius, 27, had sold the Pretoria house where the shooting took place to help cover his legal fees.
The house sold for 4.5-million rand ($418,000), slightly below the estimated value of 5-million rand.
Carl Pistorius, 29, “was badly hurt but we are thankful that he is out of danger” his family said in a statement.
His car had been hit by another vehicle which had swerved from the opposite side of the road, the statement added.
South African media reported that Carl Pistorius sustained multiple fractures and suffered internal bleeding.
He has been a near-constant presence at Oscar Pistorius’ murder trial.
Oscar Pistorius has described how Carl became a “father figure” for himself and his sister after their parents’ marriage broke down and their mother died.
In May last year Carl Pistorius was acquitted of culpable homicide over the death of a motorcyclist in South Africa in 2008.
The Oscar Pistorius trial is set to resume on August 7, with both teams expected to present their closing arguments.
Carl Pistorius, brother of Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius, has been acquitted of culpable homicide over the death of a motorcyclist in South Africa.
A magistrate ruled that Carl Pistorius, 28, had not been negligent in the death of Marietjie Barnard in March 2008.
The prosecution admitted it had been unable to prove the charges and said it would take no further action.
The case had attracted attention as it came to court shortly after Oscar Pistorius shot dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.
Carl Pistorius, brother of Paralympic athlete Oscar Pistorius, has been acquitted of culpable homicide over the death of a motorcyclist in South Africa
Oscar Pistorius, 26, is charged with premeditated murder for the Valentine’s Day shooting, but says he mistook 29-year-old Reeva Steenkamp for a burglar.
Carl Pistorius cried with relief, reported AP news agency, as the magistrate acquitted him of the charges against him, which also included reckless driving.
Instead, the magistrate ruled, Marietjie Barnard, 36, had been driving excessively fast when she crashed into the back of his vehicle.
“We are satisfied with the outcome and Carl is also happy to see the end of this case,” said Carl Pistorius’ lawyer Kenny Oldwage following the hearing at Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court south of Johannesburg.
Carl Pistorius, brother of South African Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius – who is accused of murdering girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp – is also facing trial over the death of a woman.
Carl Pistorius is charged with culpable homicide over the death of a woman motorcyclist in a traffic accident, his lawyer said.
The case has no relation to the charges against Oscar Pistorius over the shooting of Reeva Steenkamp.
Oscar Pistorius – who was released on bail on Friday – denies murder.
The charges against Carl Pistorius over an accident involving his car in which a woman on a motorcycle died date back to 2010 but have only just emerged, local media reports say.
They were confirmed by Pistorius family lawyer Kenneth Oldwage.
The accident took place in the town of Vanderbijlpark, an hour’s drive south of Johannesburg.
Carl Pistorius, brother of South African Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius, is also facing trial over the death of a woman
Police conducted tests on Carl Pistorius and he was found to have no alcohol in his blood at the time.
Carl Pistorius is due in court at the end of March, which means his trial may end before his younger brother Oscar’s is due to begin on June 4.
Carl Pistorius was a constant presence at his brother’s four-day bail hearing.
Oscar Pistorius admits shooting Reeva Steenkamp at his home on Valentine’s Day but denies murder, saying he mistook her for an intruder.
