The moment the new Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) train collided with a truck on the Tema-Mpakadan rail line has been captured on an onboard camera recording.
In the video shared by the Minister of Railways Development, John-Peter Amewu, on Facebook, the accident occurred at 12:10 pm on Thursday, April 18, 2024.
The train was moving at top speed when the stationery Hyundai truck with registration number GS 9018-20 suddenly appeared in view.
The emergency brake system was applied, but the train unfortunately rammed into the truck before it could come to a stop.
It dragged the truck for over 10 seconds before halting with debris scattered around.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Railways Development said the train was on a test run.
It added that there were no fatalities from the accident, apart from damage to the driver’s cabin and the destruction of the truck.
Following the collision, the driver of the abandoned truck went into hiding at Tagadzi, where he was arrested and arraigned before the Juapong court.
He was charged with careless and inconsiderate driving, unauthorized stopping, causing unlawful damage, and failing to produce a driver’s license.
The court, presided over by Prosper Deu-Love Gormashie, considered the fact that the convict was married with three children and his guilty plea at the first instance.
In the delivery of the judgment, the accused received 100 penalty units for careless and inconsiderate driving, 20 penalty units for unauthorized stopping, and six months imprisonment with hard labour for causing unlawful damage.
The first batch of 12 state-of-the-art trains assembled in Poland for railway transportation in Ghana arrived in March 2024.
The trains are to be used on the new Tema-Mpakadan Standard-Gauge Railway Line.
The 97km standard-gauge railroad, known as the Tema-Mpakadan Railway Line, will facilitate the movement of goods and people along the Eastern Corridor of Ghana.
It is part of a larger plan for a 1000-km Ghana-Burkina Faso interconnectivity project, which will connect Ouagadougou to the port in Tema, Ghana.