By Bill W. Cooper
One of the two persons who died in the tragic motor accident involving a motorbike and 10-tyre truck along the Roberts International Airport (RIA) route has been buried.
Charles J.C. Jacob, who was smashed dead as a result of the accident which occurred the late morning hours of Saturday, March 23, 2024, when the speeding truck allegedly crashed the motorbike which conveyed him along with his late aunt, Pauline Jacobs Fahnbulleh, around the Best Brains Academy School junction, in Paynesville.
Mrs. Fahnbulleh is expected to be interred on tomorrow while a memorial service will be planned in their memory, the families disclosed.
They died instantly after being hit from the rear; eyewitnesses described the accident as horrifying and chaotic, with the two bodies scattered on the road while the critically injured individual believed to be the bike ride was later rushed to the ELWA hospital and is said to be undergoing treatment.
According to the bystanders, the driver of the truck, who was reportedly driving recklessly, like someone being chased for a crime, fled the scene immediately, leaving behind a serious trail of destruction and sorrow.
Meanwhile, the accident sparked outrage among residents in the area, who have long complained about the dangerous driving practices on the RIA road, thus setting ablaze the 10-tyre truck filled with sand.
They are calling on the police to implement the no-go zone time for trucks or enforce the traffic and safety laws while meting out harsher penalties for reckless drivers to prevent such tragedies and ensure safety of residents as well as pedestrians and other drivers along the RIA route.
In response to the accident, some officers of the Liberian National Police (LNP) expressed sympathy to the bereaved family, assuring of the police’s commitment to launch an investigation to identify and apprehend the driver responsible for the crash, and are pleading with the citizenry to come forward with any information that may help in the investigation in identifying and ensuring the arrest of the driver of the truck so that he faces the law.
The RIA Road is known for its high traffic volume and frequent accidents, with many drivers ignoring speed limits and traffic signals, despite the road stretching from the Airport to the ELWA junction being under construction.
Also, the tragic accident on the RIA Road serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers of reckless driving and the importance of road safety.
It is a wake-up call for authorities to take action and ensure that the roads in Liberia are safe for all users.
