Indian Ambassador, Delegation in Car Crash

MONROVIA – The Indian Ambassador to Liberia, Shamma Jain, and at least two other members of an Indian diplomatic delegation were involved in a terrible car crash on Robertsfield-Kendeja highway Thursday, February 4.

The visiting Indian Minister of Overseas Affairs, Vayalar Ravi, was also in the crash.

The delegation was headed to Roberts International Airport (RIA) to catch a Virgin Nigeria flight after breakfast with Vice President Joseph N. Boakai, Sr. at the Robert L. Johnson Resort & Villas at Kendeja.

According to eyewitnesses, the accident, which occurred at about 10:30 a.m. yesterday, was caused by a Nissan Sunny space wagon taxi with plate number TX 6357. The taxi driver was reportedly moving at high speed from the opposite direction. As the taxi approached the Ambassador’s vehicle, a four-door Lincoln Covert vehicle (license plate number NG 1332), an escort in the leading car in the Ambassador’s convoy signaled the cab driver to stop. He ignored the signal and sped on. In the process, the cab driver lost control and ran into the left side of the Ambassador’s car. The resultant impact, according to eyewitnesses, was so great that the ambassador’s car somersaulted three times, ran off the road and landed wheels up. Both the Indian ambassador and the visiting Indian Minister had to be pulled out of their car, reports say.

According to other accounts, 10 people from both vehicles were injured and taken to the Eternal Love Winning Africa (ELWA) and the John F. Kennedy (JFK) hospitals for immediate medical attention.

Jain and Ravi were rushed to JFK.

Efforts by the Daily Observer to see the Indian diplomats did not materialize, as security personnel said that they had received information that the patients were on critical list and that no one was allowed to see them.

Ravi, the visiting Indian Minister of Overseas Affairs, arrived in the country Wednesday, February 3, to meet with Indian citizens and some top Liberian Government officials. He is the second high-profile Indian government official to visit Liberia in 40 years.