SA hit-and-run driver lynched

One of the 500,000 annual crashes in South Africa

South African police say a driver was hauled out of his car by an angry crowd and stoned to death, after he had driven into a crowd leaving a funeral, killing six people.

They had put him inside the boot of the car and were about to burn him

Police inspector Tyron Seate

Police said the incident took place in Klipgat, north-west of Pretoria.

They said the man had attempted to drive away after hitting the crowd at high speed in his BMW car.

About 500 mourners dragged the driver from his car and killed him.

They then threw stones at the police who attempted to stop them setting fire to the man's body.

Rubber bullets

"They had put him inside the boot of the car and were about to burn him... We had to use rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse them," Inspector Seate told Reuters news agency.

Two people injured by the bullets are in a stable condition in hospital.

The police said that four people died instantly when the car hit the crowd, and two were pronounced dead on arrival at hospital, including a six-month-old baby.

Four others were injured.

Police say it may be a case of drink driving.

"There is a possibility that he was driving under the influence of alcohol, but a post mortem will be conducted to determine that," Inspector Seate was quoted as saying by the French news agency AFP.

He said an investigation was under way.

Correspondents say South Africa's roads are among the most dangerous in the world, with road accidents killing thousands each year.

Road accidents claim nearly 10,000 lives in approximately 500,000 crashes annually, according to Reuters.