The Damaged Vehicle
Residents in Kpetoe in the Agotime-Ziope District of the Volta Region are yet to come to terms with the death of two young men; a police officer and a community protection assistant, both with the Kpeteo Police Station.
Although the incident happened last Thursday night, the euphoria and excitement of the Kpetoe Kente Festival which was climaxed last Saturday, October 20, drowned the news and grief until yesterday when the news went viral.
The entire town had been caught in the grief of the two officers who got drowned in the Kpetoeme river.
The District Police Commander, Benedicta Abboah-Offei, who confirmed the incident, corroborated earlier reports by GNA which disclosed that the incident happened at about 9:00pm last Thursday on the Kpetoe-Aflao highway.
On that fateful night, which had been preceded by a day of excitement due to the celebrations, Samuel Zonu, the Community Protection Assistant was seen driving a Toyota Corolla saloon car which belonged to Lance Corporal Stanley Ahlidza. The vehicle with registration number, GE-3620-W had Lance Corporal Ahlidza in the passenger seat while Samuel drove.
The two who were driving from Kpetoe towards the Aflao direction hit the rear of a Toyota pick-up which had parked on the shoulders of the road, a few meters from the CEPS Training School.
Reports say, on hitting the pick-up with registration number ER-2343-11, the Community Protection Officer lost control of the saloon car and plunged into the river.
Witnesses quickly alerted the Police who called in the Fire Service to assist in the rescue mission. The two were rushed to the Volta Regional Hospital in Ho after there were retrieved from the river. Unfortunately, they were pronounced dead on arrival.
The bodies are at the morgue awaiting autopsy. Meanwhile the badly damaged car had been towed to the Kpetoe Police Station as investigation continues.
Madam Abboah-Offei used the opportunity to advise drivers to check their speed limits, especially when they are driving through communities.
From Fred Duodu, Ho (k.duodu@yahoo.com)