No Major Accident on Xmas

No major motor accident occurred in Monrovia during this year’s Christmas celebration as opposed to previous festivities which characterized tragic accidents, according to John F. Saah, chief of Traffic at the Liberian National Police (LNP).

During last year’s Christmas, several accidents occurred within Monrovia claiming many lives.

But this year, Assistance Inspector Saah said Christmas day was ‘another fine day for us’ as there was no major accident within the city.

“Yesterday was another fine day for us and the people of Liberia. There was no major accident within the city; everyone had a good celebration,” he averred.

Asst. Inspector Saah explained that prior to the festive day, police instituted mechanisms to prevent drivers from ‘over speeding’ and engaging in ‘reckless’ driving. He said the measures were fully implemented throughout the Christmas day.

“We were able to succeed. Prior to Christmas, we put in place mechanisms that prevented people from careless dressing, over speeding and other acts that are incompatible with the law. It all worked. With the help of every Liberian, we were able to succeed.

“On Christmas day, as you all could see it, we did not also see people throwing beer bottles on the streets as compared to last Christmas when bottles were thrown all over the streets,’’ he said.

The curfew placed on motorcyclists also played a vital role in the prevention of accidents during the festive day, he revealed, adding that he would want the curfew to remain imposed ‘’for ever.”

‘’The curfew has not only reduced armed robbery or crime, it has also reduced accidents involving cars and other vehicles or motorbikes. I am kindly pleading with the Inspector General of Police to extend it by maintaining it. It should remain in place forever,” he said.

He however noted that a vehicle belonging to the US embassy marked 1 CD 53 was involved in an accident outside Monrovia allegedly hitting a motorcyclist around the Duazon community, Margibi County, a situation that he said, resulted in mob violence.

“Then when he (US Embassy Driver) got to ELWA, a police officer got on board the vehicle. The motorcyclists chased the police and the US embassy car to the 20th streets, stoned the car and damaged it. The US embassy staff sustained minor injuries,” he said.

Saah disclosed that the police made some arrests, and emphasized that they will “take every step to make sure that those that were involved are brought to justice.”

“We are not looking at the accident. We are looking at the criminality involved. We will investigate the accident of course; but we will first investigate the criminality. We don’t want this kind of occurrence. We don’t want accident to result into mob related actions,” he stressed.