The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has raised alarm about the lack of fire stations in the country.
The GNFS particularly bemoaned the absence of one in the East Legon area of Accra.
This concern follows a tragic accident in which two vehicles caught fire, resulting in the deaths of two individuals.
According to ADO1 Alex King Nartey from the GNFS Public Relations Department, it took approximately 15 minutes for a fire truck to arrive at the scene from the Madina Fire Station, a delay mitigated by relatively light traffic conditions.
The devastating crash was reportedly triggered when a minor drove a Jaguar into an Acura. ADO1 Nartey informed JB on Yen Nsempa on Onua fm on October 14 that the investigation into the incident is ongoing, while providing preliminary details about its circumstances.
“Upon our initial investigation, we realized that the Acura was at a junction about to negotiate a curve when the Jaguar came with a very unreasonable speed hitting the vehicle at the back and forcing it to crossover to hit a wooden electric pole.”
Our initial assessment indicates that an electric pole and its wire may have fallen onto the vehicle, igniting the fire we witnessed. Fortunately, the driver and passenger in the front of the Acura were rescued before our arrival. Tragically, the two women in the back were not as lucky; the impact mangled the rear of the vehicle, preventing their escape. Additionally, the collision with the pole further blocked their exit. They were trapped with their seat belts on, which sadly led to their deaths in the fire,” he revealed.
The firefighters had to carefully extract the bodies to prevent additional damage.
“We had to be very tactful taking their bodies out because the bodies had melted onto the seat and so we had to cut the whole car into scrap to be able to get them out without further dismembering their bodies since they were very charred. Fortunately, we retrieved their bodies and handed them over to the police,” he said.
Mr Nartey added that the two people in the Jaguar including the driver that caused the accident are also responding to treatment at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC).
He noted that the passenger in the front seat of the Acura who escaped has been treated and discharged, while the driver is still responding to treatment.
He stated that they would be visiting the University of Medical Centre for a further assessment.
In response to reports that the driver responsible for the accident is the son of a prominent reverend minister in Ghana, the fire officer said he could not confirm that information at this time.
Even before the investigation is complete, the fire officer expressed his belief that excessive speeding was a factor in the accident.
“I have a feeling that he [Driver] was going between 150 and 180 kilometres per hour because looking at the CCTV footage it was an abnormal speed. It’s not even a speed that you probably see on a highway not to talk of a residential area like that,” he opined.
ADO1 Nartey urged motorists to regularly check their side mirrors for nearby vehicles to ensure their safety. He also recommended that drivers carry fire extinguishers in their cars and know how to use them in emergencies. Additionally, he encouraged residents to advocate for the establishment of fire stations in areas that currently lack them.
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By Daakyehene Nana Yaw Asante
The post East Legon Accident: A fire station in East Legon could have made a difference – GNFS PRO first appeared on 3News.
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