The incident involved a vehicle with a top speed from the 37 Military Hospital route which was reportedly triggered by a woman with her baby who was about cross the street.
So far in 2025, road safety officials have recorded a disturbing number of accidents, many of which have stemmed from similar infractions—drivers ignoring traffic signals and pedestrians attempting to cross at unauthorized times.
This latest incident has once again drawn attention to the need for both motorists and pedestrians to adhere strictly to traffic laws, especially during high-traffic events like the Kpogas Junction.
Chief inspector Harry Owusu, from the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) at the La District reiterated call for stricter enforcement and discipline on the roads.
“Education is very key. We need to do proactive teaching of how to cross roads, and let Ghanaians know that jumping red lights or underrating a driver coming when the traffic lift is red is very bad. We have to do enforcement. We have to arrest people who are forcing vehicles to stop although it’s not red,” he cautioned.
According to eyewitnesses who responded to the crash, the driver at fault was reportedly attempting to overtake on the inner lane at high speed, resulting in a collision at a lightpole that affected the vehicles.
While there were no fatalities, minor injuries were reported, and traffic was diverted for close to an hour by the police and MTTD. Eyewitnesses recounts the incident to ABC News.
“I am truck driver here, we were here when we heard the noise, like a bursting of a tyre. So when we rushed here we saw that the car was about to hit a woman with her baby at her back. When I saw the accident, I rushed to the car, safety first. So when I got to help the injured driver, called for help. I was in my room when I heard a loud noise, so I rushed out. When I came out I saw that a vehicle with a top speed from palm wine junction has bumped into the lightpole here. When I enquired, I was told she was coming at top speed whiles the red light was on, so she lost control when she realized that someone was crossing,” they recounted
The vehicle was toed to the La police for further investigation on the incident, whiles the driver and the pedestrian with her child are receiving treatment at the 37 Military Hospital.
The Chief Inspector of the MTTD emphasized the department’s commitment to traffic safety and expressed concern over the increasing number of drivers disregarding traffic signals in their haste to reach destinations.
“Pedestrian safety matters. But people don’t follow road traffic signals. They always cross the road seeing that there’s an oncoming vehicle. When you arrest these people, they are jail walkers. They are to be put before the court. But the moment you arrest these individuals, people to begging for their release. At the drivers themselves come to the rescue of these people,” he added.
A report from the National Roads Safety Authority indicates that a total of 7,470 road traffic crashes were reported from January to July last year. These crashes involved 12,678 vehicles of all categories (Private, Commercial, Motorbikes/Cycles among others, and 9,965 casualties recorded.
By Andy Oppong Dankyi.
