Monday, August 23, 2010

TRUCK OVERTURNS AT BOADI JUNCTION (NSEMPA, PAGE 15, AUGUST 23, 2010)

By George Ernest Asare, Kumasi.

The overturning of an articulated truck at the Boadi Junction roundabout of the KNUST–Ejisu trunk road in Kumasi, has reinforced the need to repair the road to reduce the spate of accidents happening that part of the road network in Kumasi.
The truck with registration number 32 GH 5231 fully loaded with assorted goods, was heading towards the commercial area of Kumasi on Tuesday, August 17, 2010, when it capsized at the roundabout.
The accident brought vehicular traffic to a halt, as motorists struggled to manoeuvre to create space to continue their journeys to the commercial area in Kumasi.
Expressing concern about the nature of the road, during an interview with Graphic Nsempa, a Long Vehicle driver, Mr Kwame Owusu Ansah said it was time the Urban Roads Department re-engineered the roundabouts that had been designed in the middle of the road.
This, he said, would reduce the spate of accidents that had been occurring since the road was re-constructed.
He wondered why roundabouts should be created at areas where there were no intercessions, saying the nature of the road was affecting road safety.
“Since these roundabouts were designed, a number of accidents, many of which fatal, and had claimed precious lives, had occurred, and the expectation was that, the Urban Roads Department would initiate measures to rectify the errors created, but they are behaving as if there is nothing at stake” he bemoaned.
Mr Owusu Ansah said long vehicles, which were fully loaded “mostly fall prey to these traps created, so we are appealing to the authorities to heed cries by redesigning the roundabouts”.
Eyewitness account told Graphic Nsempa that the vehicle overturned when it attempted to negotiate the roundabout.
The driver who was said to have sustained minor injuries was rushed to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Hospital where he was treated.

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