Driver involved in President's accident in court

Accra, Nov. 16, GNA - Thomas Osei, the driver who crossed President John Agyekum Kufuor's convoy on the Liberation Link, near Opeibea House, last Wednesday, was remanded into Police custody until November 30 when he appeared at the Accra Motor Court on Friday.

Osei, who spots a plaster above his left eye, is being held for dangerous driving, negligently causing harm, driving under the influence of alcohol and failing to give way to the presidential convoy.

The court, presided over by Mr Samuel Diwuoh did not take his plea but asked that the facts and charges be read to 56 year-old baldhead. Osei, dressed in a red, black and white stripped T-shirt and a pair of black trouser with a brown pair of slippers, sweated as he waited for the case to be called.

Chief Inspector Dora Seiwaah prayed the court not to take the accused person's plea because investigations were still going on. "We want to investigate other aspects of the case," Chief Inspector Seiwaah added.

Chief Inspector Seiwaah said at about 1030 hours on November 14, Osei, who was driving a Mercedes Benz SE 500 saloon car with registration number GT 2989 W was driving in the inner lane along the South Liberation Link from AFGO towards 37 Military Hospital. When he arrived at the Opeibea traffic light, he ignored the siren of the presidential convoy, and drove straight into the rear offside portion of the President's Mercedes Benz 550 saloon car.

The prosecution said the impact forced the President's vehicle to spin around and hit a light pole on the central reserve.

The president's vehicle finally fell on its right side and landed on a VW Golf saloon car with registration number GW 8750 K driven by Pastor Ken Joe Osei Kuffuor who was driving from 37 Military Hospital. Chief Inspector Seiwaah said all the vehicles were damaged and the drivers who sustained injuries were rushed to the 37 Military Hospital for treatment.

She said the accused was also admitted at the same hospital but the President escaped unhurt. The prosecutor said further investigations revealed that Osei was driving under the influence of alcohol as when he was tested with an Alco Sensor it read 0.41 per cent content of alcohol in his breath instead of the legal limit of 0.08 per cent.