Articulated Truck Falls Over Mallam Overhead Bridge

The mangled front and trailer of the truck after the accident

The mangled front and trailer of the truck after the accident The Mallam Overhead Bridge in accra, recorded its first major disaster early Monday morning when a 40-foot articulated truck over-turned from the top to the ground, killing its driver and the mate.

The Nigerian registered truck, XT 161 BDG, Lagos, which was loaded with Key and Sunlight soap, was alleged to have been hired to cart the products from Tema to Cape Coast when the accident occurred about 3:30 a.m.

It took the efforts of personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service to remove the Beninois driver, Roland Sanuvi, 28, from the mangled front of the articulated trruc

The driver’s mate, who is yet to be identified, was said to have died while being taken to the hospital.

Their bodies have been deposited at the mortuary of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

A large crowd of on-lookers had gathered at the accident spot where there was the mangled front of the truck and bars and cakes of the soap scattered all over the place. Some of the soap had taken over the road leading from the Mallam area to link the main Kaneshie-Kasoa road.

While some criticised the sharp-curved nature of the overhead bridge, others commended the contractors for the fortified nature of the bulwark along the road.

It is, however, unclear if the driver was dozing as some suspected in view of the time of the accident.

The trailer was one of two following each other to deliver the goods in Cape Coast.

The Odorkor Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), Assistant Superintendent of Police, Mr Abdulai Mumuni, told graphic.com.gh, that the trailer skidded off the overhead bridge to the ground about 3:30 a.m.

He said after several attempts to remove the driver proved futile, personnel of the GNFS were called in to remove him.

He said a passport found on the driver identified him as a Beninois.

ASP Mumuni said the police were making efforts to contact the person who might have engaged the services of the driver.