4 more remanded over Tema-Mpakadan train accident
Four more persons have been apprehended for their alleged involvement in the accident on the Tema-Mpakadan railway line at Abortia in the Volta Region.
They are alleged to have aided Abel Adzidotor, the driver of the truck that caused the Tema-Mpakadan railway accident.
They are Kokou Koudjo, Patrick Kwaku Sosu, Alaza Prosper and Fiadugbe Emmanuel.
The four have been charged with “abetment of unlawful damage”.
According to the prosecution led by Assistant State Attorney Christabel Selma Anafure, on April 18, 2024, the accused persons tried to use the railway as a shortcut from Abortia to Juapong after offloading some blocks.
She said when they arrived at the railway tracks and realized that it was impossible to cross over, they decided to collect stones from the sides of the tracks.
READ ALSO: [VIDEO] How ‘Reckless’ Driver Caused Tema-Mpakadan Railway Accident
They placed these stones on the railway lines to create a path for the truck to cross over.
However, the truck still got stuck on the railway line, and the accused persons tilted the head of the truck and left the scene without providing any warning for trains plying the tracks.
“Investigations have disclosed that there is no access route across the railway tracks to the Juapong road.
“Even if the truck had successfully crossed the railway, a big gutter and a stream to the west side of the railway lines would have prevented the accused persons from joining the Akuse-Juapong road,” the ASA said.
The Assistant State Attorney said that on the same day, the management of the Ghana Railway Corporation led by 29 engineers from Ghana and Poland embarked on a test run of the new Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) Train from Tema to Mpakadan.
This test run, she said had been announced ahead of time.
When the train got to the Abortia area, it rammed into the Hyundai Gold Truck stuck across the railway lines.
She prayed the High Court not to take the accused persons’ pleas as investigations were underway.
ASA Anafure further asked the court to remand the four into police custody, which the court obliged.
This comes after the driver of the truck, 41-year-old Abel Dzidotor, was sentenced to six months in prison for careless and inconsiderate driving, unauthorized stopping, and causing unlawful damage on April 19, 2024.