A driver tragically lost his life after his Honda Fit car submerged near a bridge on the Accra-Tema motorway as a result of heavy rains on May 25, 2024.
The body of the deceased was found several meters away from his car on Tuesday [May 28, 2024].
The vehicle, with registration number GR 1254-22, was retrieved after efforts by officers of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), police, the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), and bystanders.
Nana-Mintah Nanor, the second-in-command at the Tema Motorway Fire Station, explained, “A dispatch rider, who witnessed the incident, rushed to the station and informed us about the car being washed away by floodwaters into the drain of the bridge, less than 100 meters from Nutrifoods”.
According to the rider, they initially tried to rescue the driver but failed and subsequently informed the police.
Rescuers had given up because they could not locate the car in the water.
However, on Tuesday, the rider noticed a crowd gathered around the area, pointing at the submerged car, which was identifiable only by its antenna.
“I immediately informed a police commander. Our men quickly got into the water, tied ropes to the car, and helped tow it to where it was visible, but there was no occupant,” Nanor explained.
The police and the National Road Safety Authority(NRSA) also assisted in using a towing vehicle to move the car to a nearby yard.
Later, the body was found meters away from his car.
Nanor seized the opportunity to caution drivers not to navigate through floodwaters during downpours.
“With the nature of our roads, you don’t take the risk of driving on flooded roads.
“Do not be deceived that you have control over the steering wheel; you could be washed away. If there is a need to wait until all flooded areas are clear before moving, please do so because life is too precious to be wasted this way. Please respect this safety protocol”.
He also expressed concern over the lack of guardrails or barriers on the stretch to prevent vehicles from falling off the road.
The driver, Noel Adams, now deceased, according to family members, was last seen alive on Saturday, May 26, 2024.
According to the family report, Adams had picked up two girls from Tema and was heading towards Accra.
Upon reaching the Abattoir Bridge, the area was heavily flooded, blurring his vision, and he navigated forcefully through the water.
Unfortunately, their car veered off the road and fell into the gutter, leading to the untimely death of the three persons in the vehicle.