The police have confirmed a crash involving some police vehicles while driving and facing oncoming traffic in the opposite lane in the Ridge area of Accra on Wednesday and knocking down a motor cyclist but have denied a suggestion that the crash victim was abandoned and was not taken to hospital.
The Cyber Vetting and Enforcement Team of the Ghana Police Service has indicated to Graphic Online that the crash victim, who is a civilian and was riding a motorcycle was taken to the hospital for treatment.
The crash occurred at the National Theatre area of Ridge.
Emmanuel Bonney reports that the Cyber Vetting and Enforcement Team said it picked up a publication on Facebook by journalist, Umaru Sanda Amadu to the effect that a motorist was involved in a road traffic accident with police vehicles and that the police failed to convey the motorist to the hospital.
The police explained that the incident involved SV No. 115 and one other vehicle from the National Protection Unit (NPU) and its officers who were said to be on "an important assignment".
"Preliminary enquiries indicate that the assigned service driver quickly conveyed the victim to Ridge Hospital for medical attention. The victim subsequently confirmed that he had received medical treatment from the Ridge Hospital and was discharged," the police said.
It said the victim further indicated that the police personnel involved settled all his medical bills and that he continued to take his prescribed medication while recovering at home.
The case, it said was under investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the accident and to determine whether any additional action was required.
Read below what Umaru Sanda Amadu published on Facebook following which the IGP's Cyber Vetting Team is reacting with the explanation that the victim was taken to hospital
Dear IGP,
I witnessed something unfortunate yesterday that I want to inform you. Not so you punish anyone but so it can be used to train other members of your esteemed service. It was around 5pm. The gridlock from Accra central towards 37 was massive. I had inched up to an area close to the Ridge roundabout.
Two police cars were driving against oncoming traffic on the other lane which was relatively free. This is normal. Police are allowed by law to do that.
For some reason, the police car in front hit an oncoming motorbike, sending the rider splashing face down on the asphalt. His helmet was on but the impact made him unconscious. Glass from the motorbike shattered and scattered on the street.
All the police men on board came down. Some held their guns at the ready (maybe in case it's a planned attack). A woman in mufti sat in the front seat of the police car at the back. She didn't get down. She didn't move. She just sat and watched the scene.
The police men gathered around the unconscious man and kept staring at him for what felt like forever. Other motor riders kept gathering around the scene.
Then the police men decided to carry the unconscious man and his motorbike into the grass in the middle of the road. He regained consciousness at this time but was still very confused and dizzy from the head on collision with the police car.
A police man bowed and tried to talk to him. It was useless. They stood there and watched him. They tried to lift him to his feet. He groaned and fell back on the floor, twirling.
I have witnessed accidents in the past involving civilians. Instantaneously, they would carry the injured victim into a taxi or a benevolent driver's car and speed off to the hospital.
The police did not do this. They just waited. I think they were hoping he would suddenly become strong and hop on his bike and ride off. That didn't happen.
I could sense their frustration. Whatever mission they were on must have been very important to warrant they driving against traffic. Now, here they were, stalled by an injured man. I'm sure they were not only frustrated. They were angry too.
I would have thought they'd carry him to the Ridge hospital which was less than a minute away. They didn't. They just waited. Maybe they were waiting for an ambulance. I don't know.
After more than 5 minutes of waiting, the traffic on my side started moving so we the anxious observers on this side had to drive off.
I wonder what happened to him. I do hope they took him to the hospital .
Please check on him sir. I have been thinking about it since yesterday
