A police constable, who was found dead next to his car on the N2 near the Winkelspruit off-ramp, may have accidentally shot himself.

The officer, 33, who was alone and on his way to work at the Cato Manor police station on Monday morning, had been shot in the thigh.

It appears the officer, who was driving at the time of the incident, got out his vehicle and fell alongside his car where he bled to death.

Police are investigating the possibility that the officer’s state-issued firearm may have gone off accidentally and hit him in an artery.

The area around the body was cordoned off while crime scene investigating scoured for clues.

A relative, who works at a nearby school, arrived at the scene and was comforted by officers. She was too distraught to speak to the Daily News.

Daily News