Lamin Bojang, the son of the Alkalo, and Mamadou Suling, the uncle of Jainaba, one of the deceased.
By Ramatoulie Jawo
A recent fatal accident in Kafuta village, West Coast Region, has left the community in mourning, prompting calls from residents for the government and relevant authorities to implement additional safety measures. They are urging for more police checkpoints and the installation of speed bumps, also known as “sleeping police,” to curb the frequency of accidents and prevent further loss of life.
Kerr Fatou visited the victims’ families on Thursday to hear their concerns about the tragic loss of their loved ones.
The residents expressed alarm over the persistent accidents in their area, which they believe are caused by reckless driving and a lack of proper road safety infrastructure.
The families of the victims described their sorrow, mourning the untimely deaths of their young and innocent family members.
Mamadou Suling, uncle of one of the victims, Jainaba, explained that the road leading from Faraba to Kafuta is straight, and many drivers often exceed safe speeds. He proposed that, if speed bumps cannot be installed, the authorities could at least set up two police checkpoints on the highway—one near the school and another near the hospital. He noted that during the political impasse, when police checkpoints were stationed on the main road, there were no incidents, even with livestock. However, once the checkpoints were removed, a vehicle struck a goat on the very same day.
“This demonstrates the effectiveness of the checkpoints,” Suling said. “We are appealing to the authorities to restore the police checkpoints or help us with speed bumps to ensure the safety of our community, especially our children.”
Baseedy Manjang, another resident, voiced his concern about the young victims, most of whom were aged 14 to 15. He emphasized that these young individuals represented the future of the community. “It’s heartbreaking to think of the lives we’ve lost, people who were so close to our hearts. No one can predict what they could have become,” he said.
Manjang also urged the government to promote responsible driving through education, pointing out that drivers should exercise caution, especially when children or pedestrians are nearby.
Lamin Bojang, the son of the Alkalo, provided further details about the accident. He explained that the driver had not been traveling a long distance before the collision, having stopped at a shop just 200 meters before the incident. Despite signs warning drivers about a crowd ahead, the truck driver ignored the warnings from two community members who were wearing reflective vests and signaling the driver to slow down.
“By the time of the accident, we were focused on the injured, and we didn’t see the driver anymore,” Bojang recalled.
Bojang expressed dissatisfaction with how the authorities handled the situation. “As a community, we expected certain actions to be taken before the vehicle was moved. The police should have inspected the vehicle to check the brakes and other components, but this didn’t happen,” he said. He also noted that eyewitnesses had not been interviewed by the police at the scene, although they were advised to visit the Mandinaba Police Station to give their statements.
The community was further surprised to learn that the driver had already been brought to court and pleaded not guilty, even before the vehicle was thoroughly inspected. “What shocked us was that the vehicle was moved to Mandinaba Police Station before being tested. How can the driver be charged without confirming whether the vehicle had a problem? Perhaps I don’t understand the law, but I believe things should be done in the proper order,” Bojang said.
He reiterated the community’s call for the installation of speed bumps, as the road is notably straight, and fatal accidents occur every six months. He revealed that the community had previously written to the government, requesting police checkpoints to address these ongoing safety concerns.