Seven motor accidents, with one death, was recorded in Cape Coast during the Christmas period, the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service has disclosed.
Police Chief Superintendent Felix Kwesi Cosmos of the Cape Coast MTTD who made this known to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Monday, said the accidents occurred between Tuesday, December 23 and Sunday, December 28.
He said the death occurred at Abakam on the Cape Coast Takoradi Highway, near the University of Cape Coast (UCC) on Saturday December 27 at around 19:15 hrs, when the deceased, Esther Ahorlutor, aged 40, was knocked down by a Nissan Murano 4X4, while she was crossing the road.
He said the body of the victim had since been deposited at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital Morgue.
Another accident occurred at the same Abakam area on Tuesday December, 23, at around 10:00hrs, when a Benz Sprinter Mini Bus and a Man Diesel Articulated Truck crashed.
Chief Superintendent Cosmos said both vehicles were heading towards Kumasi from Takoradi, and that upon reaching Abakam, the articulated truck driver overtook the sprinter and suddenly cut in infront of it.
He said the driver of the sprinter, in an attempt to avoid a crash, swerved, lost control of the steering wheel, and landed in a ditch, with most of the passengers sustaining various degrees of injuries.
The victims were treated at the Elmina Urban Health Centre and the UCC Hospital and discharged, while the driver of the articulated truck, Isaac Anderson, who attempted to escape, was arrested at the Elmina Police Barrier, and is being processed for court.
Chief Superintendent Cosmos advised pedestrians to ensure their personal safety at all times instead of walking ?lackadaisically? by the road, thinking road safety was the sole responsibility of drivers.
He noted that about 30 percent of road crashes were pedestrian knock downs, an indication of the magnitude of the problem, and stressed the need for pedestrians to take the necessary precautions to avoid being knocked down by vehicles whenever they used the roads.
Chief Superintendent Cosmos urged passengers not to be passive when drivers drive recklessly, but rather call them to order politely or report them to the nearest police check points.
He also cautioned drivers, especially those who traveled long distances, against driving tired, as well as observe all road traffic rules and regulations, to avoid being involved in accidents.
He also called for a collective effort between road users and the security agencies in order to reduce carnage on the roads.
GNA
