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Just after 5AM on Monday morning, Gavin Watson died in a high-speed car crash on the road leading to the drop-off and parking sections of OR Tambo International Airport.

As soon as the news broke, various conspiracy theories began to circulate, and the situation wasn’t helped by the fact that Watson had switched cars the day before the accident, from his BMW X5 to a company Toyota Corolla.

Clearly, members of Watson’s own family also have doubts about the circumstances surrounding his death, as News24 reports:

Sources who have first-hand knowledge of discussions in the family have told News24 that they believe he was murdered.

Papa Leshabane, spokesperson for the family and Bosasa (now known as African Global Operations), would only confirm the family was not ruling out foul play.

The Watson family has appointed forensic engineer and accident reconstruction expert Konrad Lotter to probe the crash…

Again, sources say that the family believe Watson was murdered.

News24 journalists have already discussed the various conspiracy theories at length in this video, but there is little that can be done to squash rumours and conjecture until further information surrounding the crash emerges.

The situation isn’t helped by the fact that a man claiming to be an eyewitness says Watson committed suicide. Below from News24 once more:

…a man identifying himself as Mphahlele described the scene that played out before him on Monday.

“It is very sketchy, this thing happened in front of me yesterday morning. I was taking one client to the airport around 05:00 and there was this Corolla in front of me but I thought it was one of the Ubers or the shuttle companies. He was driving at a high speed. I thought maybe that person was running late to catch a flight.

“That Corolla was taking the far right [lane used for rental and underground parking at OR Tambo International Airport]. Then suddenly, in a split second, it goes straight to the pillar, then it turns around. Some bumpers were flying up, and to me it was someone who wanted to commit suicide. I don’t believe in some other [conspiracy] theories,” he said.

Mphahlele claimed that apart from his vehicle, there were no vehicles in front or behind Watson’s car.

The man said that he had yet to go to the police because he was in shock.

Those present at the crash site said that Watson wasn’t wearing his seatbelt, which was tucked in behind his body in order to stop the on-board computer from making the beeping reminder to buckle up.

As mentioned earlier, accident reconstruction expert Konrad Lotter, who was hired by the Watson family, is now looking into exactly what occurred.

He spoke with TimesLIVE about his immediate thoughts on the crash:

“In 98% of accident investigations the evidence speaks for itself. In the remaining 2%, it does not. Depending on how quickly evidence is gathered and preserved, which is crucial for identifying causes of accidents, I believe that this case could fall within the 2%,” said Lotter…

Lotter, who testified as an expert witness in Duduzane Zuma’s culpable homicide trial, said he was looking at nine possibilities for what caused the accident.

Thomas Holder/EWN

“These could increase, or, as evidence is gathered, decrease. The moment you only look at one cause, that is when you lose the chance of solving an accident,” he said.

He declined to elaborate on the potential causes, saying the investigation was in its infancy.

“Nothing can be ruled out at the moment.”

In other words, there may be a long way to go until we find out, conclusively, what happened on Monday morning.

Even then, you feel that conspiracy theories will continue to spread.

[sources:news24&news24&timeslive]