Kia Truck burns on Kasoa road

Kasoa (C/R), June 1, GNA- A Kia Truck fully loaded with assorted Kasapreko Alcoholic beverages on Friday somersaulted and burnt to ashes around Marchigani, bringing about huge traffic congestion on the Kasoa road.

The accident, according to eyewitness resulted from an error caused by some policemen who had mounted an artificial barrier at the Marchigani position of the road to check drivers who plied that position of the road.

When the GNA arrived at the accident scene, personnel from the Ghana Fire Service from Kasoa were already at the scene of the accident, putting out the fire from the remains of the vehicle. The Fire Service personnel had also diverted the road to the other potion creating a dual carriage on one side. Mr John Kojo Amoah, owner and driver of the burnt vehicle who was almost in tears said he was driving on the outer part of the road when the police who were conducting some road checks at the time signalled a truck in the inner lane to park. "Immediately, the truck without warning crossed my lane and in my attempt to prevent him from running into my car and products, I tried to veer off the road only to realise that the vehicle had somersaulted due to the weight of the goods I was carrying," he said. He said immediately the accident occurred, the police numbering four took off leaving him and his brother who was acting as his mate trapped in the car.

Mr Amoah said it was sympathisers around who helped him and his brother out of the car before the fire engulfed the entire vehicle with the products.

"My brother who is now on admission at the Kasoa Government Hospital, got burnt when he tried to retrieve the 50 million cedis cash we were carrying in addition to my passport. "Because of the intensity of the flame, he could not retrieve the money and my passport and I had to look on watching my 50 million cedis with my three month old Kia truck valued at 95 million cedis burn to ashes," said Mr Amaoh.

The visibly shaken Kia Truck driver, Mr Amoah said the truck driver who crossed his path was also allowed to abscond because the police took off immediately. He said he had a third party insurance cover so was not sure of his fate.

Mr Charles Anim Boateng, Head of Security, Kasapreko Company limited who also arrived on the scene shortly after the accident estimated the total valued of the destroyed alcoholic beverages at 100 million cedis. "I suspect that he was carrying about 705 cartons of our Kasapreko products including Kasapreko Gin, Alombo bitter, Opemu bitter, and others," he said.

According to the eyewitnesses majority of whom were residents of the area, this was about the third accidents caused by the police on that portion of the road within the past fortnight through the mounting of road checks.

"The police on most days arrive here either in a hired taxi or on their bikes and mount road checks between 1.30 pm and 3 O'clock," an eyewitness alleged.

The resident appealed to the police to stop the road checks on that portion since the road was a highway and also had a barrier just a few kilometres away from the Marchigani area. The residents quoted three of the registration number of the Motorbikes used by the Police as GP 1594, GP 1548 and GP 1558. 01 June 07