Overloaded haulage truck damages portions of Ashaiman overpass

A haulage truck with registration number GT 559 U on Wednesday morning got stuck in the beams underneath the Ashaiman overpass, causing damage to portions of the overpass.

The incident occurred around 4 a.m. when the head of the truck decoupled from the trailer.

The truck was transporting a Biomass Fired Steam Boiler meant for a toilet tissue paper manufacturing company at Buduburam in the Central Region.

Observation made by SVTV Africa revealed that, the equipment exceeded the 5-metre allowable height beneath the overpass.

Following attempts by the driver and some crane operators to tow the truck, the overpass has seen parts of the beams cracked.

According to the Ashaiman Police, the driver of the truck, Fatawu Abdullai, would be charged for destroying public property.

Some haulage drivers who disclosed to SVTV Africa during a vox pop, said, they have consequently appealed to the government to ensure that their vehicles are always laden with the required volume of load to prevent road accidents and the resultant carnage.

SVTV Africa’s checks indicated that an articulator truck with six axles carries 60 tonnes and the one with five axles takes 50.5 tonnes of load.

A four-axe articulator truck carries 44 tonnes of load; three-axle truck takes 34.5 tonnes and single vehicles with four axles take 37.5 tonnes.

Some drivers have strongly urged government to prevent overloading on the road.