Careless Driver who killed five fined 1,000 Ghana cedis

Asamankese, Sept. 30, GNA - Cumbate Sougite Iddrisu, a 22-year-old driver, whose careless and inconsiderate driving resulted in the death of five persons and injuries to three others has been convicted to a fine of 1,000 Ghana cedis by the Asamankese Circuit Court. Iddrisu, who pleaded guilty with explanation to all the eight counts of negligently causing harm through careless, and inconsiderate driving, will in default go to prison for nine months in hard labour. Police Chief Inspector Ben Brew, prosecuting, told the court presided over by Mr Kofi Akrowiah that on January 27 at about 1530 hours, Iddrisu was driving a Mercedes Benz articulated truck with Burkinabe registration number IIJJ 3534 BF loaded with sacks of bottles travelling from Burkina Faso towards Accra. He said on reaching Mankrong, two trucks had broken down and parked off the road, with the result that traffic from both sides had slowed down. Iddrisu who was descending a slope with a terrific speed, in the process hit a Mercedes Benz Saloon car with registration number GE8250 Y driven by Samuel Asamoah on board and run over an Opel saloon car with registration number GR 3036 V with five passengers on board who were killed instantly. The prosecution said Iddrisu finally hit a saloon car with registration number GR 1166 Z driven by Emmanuel Yaw Yeboah, which resulted to injuries to two passengers on board the car. One Comfort Ayovo who was walking along the road was hit by the saloon car after it had been hit by the articulated truck and she was also seriously injured. Measurements were taken by the police in the presence of the driver, and all the dead and injured were conveyed to the Koforidua Regional Hospital. The Police sent a duplicate docket on the case to the Attorney General's office in Koforidua, which directed that Iddrisu should be charged and put before court.