2 drivers arrested over Cop’s death

A multiple accident that occurred near the Tetteh Quarshie interchange on the Accra-Tema Motorway yesterday claimed the life of a policeman, who was managing traffic on a section of the road.

The police officer, Sergeant Anthony Nyarko, attached to the Police Headquarters, was run over by one of the vehicles when he attempted flagging the driver to stop.

He died shortly on arrival at the Police Hospital, where he was rushed to after the incident.

His police motorbike was also badly damaged in the accident.

The two drivers, Adamu Safiu, 38, and Stephen Arthur, 36, have been arrested and are assisting in police investigations.

An eyewitness said that the incident occurred around 12:45pm yesterday when the deceased was on duty with Inspector Kwesi Baah in front of the Tullow building at a spot called Airport Junction.

The policemen were said to have spotted the two vehicles, both Man Diesel cargo trucks with registration numbers GS 7895-12 and GR 5803M coming from Achimota towards Tema.

While one was fully loaded with sand, the other was empty.

The empty truck, the eyewitness said, was in the inner lane while the one loaded with sand was in the outer lane, both driving in parallel positions.

Sergeant Nyarko, who was then by the roadside flagged the cargo truck driver, Adamu Safiu, to stop.

As the driver slowed down, suspect Stephen Arthur drove into the truck whose driver lost control due to the impact which made the truck to veer off the road to where the policeman was standing.

Sergeant Nyarko was run over alongside his motorbike. He died soon on arrival at the Police Hospital.

Confirming the story, DSP William Asante, the commander in charge of the Airport Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), said the suspects involved in the accident were in police custody assisting in their investigations.

Their accident vehicles have also been impounded by the police.

The two will be sent to court for prosecution after investigations, he said.