Kingsville, Rural Montserrado – At least 11 people are confirmed dead following a tragic motor accident along the Kakata-Red Light highway. The accident occurred when a Hyundai van crashed into a broken-down truck carrying timber near Kingsville Number Seven on Sunday evening, October 27, 2024, around 8:00 pm.
Reports indicate that the truck, which had developed mechanical issues early Sunday morning around 2:00 am, was left unattended by its operator. The van, reportedly speeding, collided with the stationary truck, resulting in the deaths of eleven of the 17 occupants on board.
Eyewitnesses stated that the gray van, marked B11663, struck the six-wheeled Renault truck, license plate C31807. The impact caused the van to become lodged underneath the truck, requiring the efforts of another vehicle operator to pull it free.
According to police records, the truck, operated by Abraham Kamara, had been traveling from Nimba with 350 pieces of timber destined for Monrovia when it broke down. Kamara was reportedly attempting repairs before the fatal accident occurred.
Among the six survivors is Tina Morris, who spoke from her residence in Mandingo Quarter, Kakata. Still in shock, Tina mourned the loss of her husband and two children in the crash. “I have no hope for a better life now. The pain of losing my family is too much to bear,” she said, struggling with her grief and nursing severe body pains from the accident.
A commercial driver who regularly uses the Monrovia-Gbarnga highway criticized the police, alleging that they do little to ensure public safety on the highways, focusing more on ticketing taxi drivers for minor violations than on regulating larger vehicles. “One of the main causes of nighttime accidents on this highway is faulty lights on many vehicles, especially trucks, which make driving unsafe,” he noted.
This accident is the latest in a series of recent fatal crashes on the Monrovia-Gbarnga highway, despite the Liberia National Police’s recent relaunch of highway patrols to enforce safety according to Liberia’s Vehicle and Traffic Laws. However, concerns persist over the effectiveness of these patrols amid allegations of bribery and lax enforcement.
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