A 41-year-old truck driver, Abel Dzidotor, has been handed a six-month jail term by the Juapong Circuit Court for abandoning his vehicle on the Tema-Mpakadan rail line.
Dzidotor pleaded guilty to three charges: careless and inconsiderate driving, unauthorized stopping, and unlawful damage, leading to his conviction before Judge Prosper Deu-Love Gormashie.
For careless and inconsiderate driving, he was fined GH₵1,200 or faces a 20-month jail term in default. Unauthorized stopping incurred a fine of GH₵240 or a five-month imprisonment, while unlawful damage resulted in a six-month imprisonment in hard labour. These sentences are to run concurrently.
The case is adjourned to May 9, 2024.
Brief Facts:
Detective Chief Inspector Abel Anane explained that Engineer Dr Divine Olitey and Kwabena Bonsu, consultants of Ghana Railways Authority, reported that Dzidotor was the driver of a Hyundai truck with registration number GS 9018-20.
On April 18, 2024, between 0900 and 1300 hours, during a site acceptance test of the new Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) 001 from Tema to Mpakadan, the train collided with an unmanned truck stuck across the railway line in Abortia, Juapong.
The accused is said to have abandoned the truck without regard for other road users, resulting in severe damage to the truck and some damage to the train.
The prosecutor noted that Dzidotor went into hiding at Tagadzi, where he was subsequently arrested and brought before the court.
