A hijacker shot and killed himself this week after he was cornered by traffic officials driving the vehicle he had hijacked‚ Eastern Cape police said.

Police spokesman Captain Jackson Manatha said the man’s body was currently lying at the state mortuary in Butterworth.

“The deceased was involved in a car hijacking on Monday. He and another man hijacked a vehicle in Dutywa. The lawful owner of the vehicle informed Dutywa traffic cops of the hijacking. They then gave chase and the vehicle was spotted driving in the direction of Ngqamakwe (outside Butterworth)‚” Manatha said.

Manatha said when the suspects were cornered‚ they stopped the vehicle.

“One man ran to the forest while the other drew a firearm and shot himself to death‚” Manatha said.