KATLEHONG residents have assaulted a man and burned his car after he allegedly crashed into four schoolgirls while spinning the vehicle near a school.

The 30-year-old man was allegedly spinning his BMW near Letsemeng Primary School when he hit the four girls, seriously injuring them, Inspector Aubrey Moopeloa said yesterday.

"Two girls from Letsemeng Primary and two others from Fundolwazi primary school were walking past when he crashed into them," he said.

The girls were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

On seeing what had happened, school children and residents allegedly descended on the man and beat him up.

The enraged mob is alleged to have also set the man's car alight.

"Teachers at the primary school had to intervene and pull the man into the school yard to protect him," Moopeloa said.

The man was rushed to hospital with serious injuries after police arrived at the school.

"He is under police guard and will be charged with reckless and negligent driving when he recovers," Moopeloa said.

None of the community members involved in the mob justice attack were arrested but Moopeloa said charges of assault and malicious damage to property could be pressed against them at a later stage. - Sapa