Deputy regional minister charged for dangerous driving
The Upper East Regional Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service has provisionally charged the Deputy Regional Minister, Mr Daniel Syme, for dangerous driving which claimed the life of one person and left another injured in Bolgatanga.
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The Regional Commander of the MTTD, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mr Daniel Kwao Teye, told the Daily Graphic yesterday that from the preliminary investigations conducted by the police, the minister was driving from town to his residence in the outer lane on the Bolgatanga dual carriage-way when he noticed that there was a motorcyclist and his pillion riding in the same direction in the inner lane.
When the minister and the motorcyclist got to a section some few metres to the Library Junction, the rider and his pillion suddenly changed lanes from the inner to the outer, without showing any signs.
According to the MTTD Commander, the action by the rider was so swift and the distance between him and the minister's vehicle was so close that when the minister tried to swerve from the outer lane to the inner lane to avoid knocking the cyclist, the right front part of his vehicle hit the motorbike.
ASP Teye further intimated that the rider and his pillion fell off the motorbike, and since the rider was not wearing a crash helmet, he suffered a severe head injury that led to his death.
Allegations of escape
The MTTD Commander observed that when the accident happened, the minister was able to stop about 20 metres away from the scene, as he realised that if he should reverse on the highway to the scene, he might cause another accident.
He, therefore, moved ahead and made a U-turn in order to attend to the victims but when he got to the scene, a vehicle behind the victims had already conveyed them (the victims) to the Regional Hospital in Bolgatanga.
ASP Teye said the minister then drove to the police station to lodge a complaint about to what had happened.
He said at the police station, the minister was instantly apprehended, and during interrogation, the minister did not show any sign of drunkenness to warrant any test with a breathlyser, even though the department had four of them.
The MTTD Commander further indicated that the minister was duly cautioned on a provisional charge of dangerous driving and granted bail to assist in investigations.
The minister's vehicle too was tested and examined by officials of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) as required by law and the vehicle was released to him, he noted.
ASP Teye further observed that investigations were still underway and when they was concluded, the docket would be forwarded to the Attorney-General’s Department for advice.
Aftermath of accident
Last Friday, a group of young people in the municipality besieged the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council to demand an explanation from the deputy regional minister.
On Saturday, a delegation of some district chief executives and officers from the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council called on the bereaved family in Bolgatanga to express their condolences to them.