Chilling accident: Police accused of turning a blind eye

One person was feared dead and several others were injured when a Renault mini bus with registration number GW 5542-12 somersaulted at a spot in front of the Villaggio buildings, near the resident of former President Kufuor in Accra on Tuesday evening.

Some of the victims had broken limbs, cuts and serious bruises. A woman had part of her head skin peeling off from the skull. They were rushed to the 37 Military Hospital for treatment.

The commercial bus which was heading towards the 37 from Madina was said to have been crossed by a Pontiac Vibe with registration number GT 6257-12 coming from the same direction.

As a result, the driver of the commercial vehicle (trotro) lost control of the vehicle causing it to somersault and trapping about 12 passengers when it finally landed on its side. Rescuers had to assist the victims to escape through the driver's door.

However, the Pontiac driven by a youngman with a lady by his side skidded off the road when it hit the commercial vehicle, bursting its (Pontiac) front tyre in the process.

According to eyewitnesses – Denis Walter, Emmanuel Sam, Bright Obeng Adu and Emmanuel Sackeyfio (Lensman) - who also assisted Myjoyonline.com with pictures of the gory accident, said the driver of the Pontiac did not show any remorse for his action nor did he care about the victims.

Myjoyonline.com's eyewitnesses said the driver, who was a little tipsy instead, called friends who came to assist him to replace the burst tyre and sped off with the lady friend as fruitless efforts were made to the police service.

Four of the eyewitnesses (named above) took pictures of the scene and went to the Airport Police Station to report the accident but were “disappointed” when the only policeman on duty allegedly refused to take their statement with the excuse that he had closed for the day around 8:30pm.

“After looking at the pictures, he asked us to wait for the police officer on night duty to take our statement and see what he or she can do,” one of the eyewitnesses, visibly aggrieved, told Myjoyonline.com, and snapped, “if the police station cannot help us in time of need, then it should be turned into a poultry farm – it would be more profitable.”

“The driver of the Pontiac Vibe should be arrested to face the full rigour of the law,” another eyewitness remarked.