Liberia: 4 Killed in Tragic Accident in Nimba County
— The accident was reported to have been caused by a land cruiser owned and operated by power utility company Jungle Water Energy
A tragic motor vehicle accident on the busy Ganta-Sanniquellie Highway in Nimba County has claimed the lives of four individuals, including a mother and her son.
The accident was reported to have been caused by a land cruiser owned and operated by utility company Jungle Water Energy, owned by business tycoon Tomah Seh Floyd, Sr.
According to reports, the driver of the Land Cruiser, Mohammed Beh, lost control of the vehicle and, in the process, hit two motorbikes, killing the riders, a mother and her son.
The Liberia National Police traffic division in Ganta confirmed the incident, and said the driver has been apprehended and transferred to Sanniquellie, along with the vehicle, for further investigation.
“We met the bodies of those killed in the hospital and apprehended the driver and transferred him to Sanniquellie along with the vehicle for investigation,” the police said.
The Ganta-Sanniquellie Highway has seen a high rate of accidents lately, with many believing that they are bound to increase if safety mechanisms are not put in place.
The police attribute the cause of the accidents to reckless driving and the lack of knowledge of traffic rules among the drivers. However, many citizens blame the police for not doing enough to curtail the recklessness and bring those involved to justice.
"Many cars pass through the police checkpoint overloaded or speeding, but the police seem to focus on collecting gate fees rather than enforcing traffic rules," said a traveler who asked not to be named.
This has caused frustration among many residents of Ganta, who feel that the police are not taking serious action to prevent accidents.
“Everyday the road is misused by the users, the drivers, but the police do not seem to be taking serious action," the traveler said, venting frustration at the police. “Once you get your gate dropped (by paying the gate fee), no police patrol or checkpoint will stop you."
Construction works on the 35-kilometer Ganta-Sanniquellie Highway is almost 90% complete. However, unless the government puts safety mechanisms in place, the high rate of accidents may continue to occur.
Meanwhile, the accident has left residents of Ganta in shock and sadness, especially with the loss of Yar Dorleay, the mother who worked as a nurse aid, and her son Uriah Zamay.
They were known to be honest and caring.