Motorbike Accident Kills 2 in Lofa County
At least two persons have died and several others wounded when a commercial motorbike collided head-on with a taxi cab in Lofa County. The Liberia News Agency quotes a local businesswoman Miatta Kromah as saying the incident brings to 10 the number of persons that have fallen victim of bike accidents recently in Voinjama, surrounding towns and villages in the county.
Madam Kromah called on authorities in the county to put in place measures to curb the current wave of motorbike accidents in Voinjama District, particularly during the rainy season.
She noted that bike riders sometimes carry about four persons at once, thereby causing accidents. She warned that if nothing is done to address the situation, many more deaths could occur in the district from bike accidents. Deplorable roads in Lofa are reportedly impeding economic activities in the county.
The situation has been attributed to heavy downpour, affecting nearly all six political districts including, Salayea, Zorzor, Voinjama, Kolahun, Foyah and Vahun districts, respectively.
Disclosing this to the Liberia News Agency recently, a heavy duty machine driver Mohammed Kamara said, the bad road condition was also hindering the free movement of citizens and obstructing vehicles that usually ply the routes, thereby making it difficult for marketers to transport their goods and services to the markets.
Kamara said as the result, commercial drivers in the area were charging exorbitant fares, noting that from Voinjama to Monrovia is now L$2750.00; Foya to Kolahun L$4250.00 and Zorzor to Salayea L$1000.00, among others.
He said the situation has caused serious economic hardship for citizens, noting that only vehicles with four-wheel-drive are venturing into the county, while motorcyclists and individuals are hired to transport goods at exorbitant fares.
Kamara said areas badly affected include Kissi quarter junction in Voinjama, Crab hole in Zogolemai Township, Zangota and Barzewen town in Voinjama and Zorzor districts, Kpayea in Salayea district, between Kolahun and Foyah, and Foyah and Vahun.
He appealed to government to help re-condition roads in the county, saying the major source of livelihood of the citizens is trade. He also disclosed that passengers traveling from Voinjama to Monrovia spend between three and four days, while those traveling from Kolahun, Foyah and Vahum, spend about a week and a half to reach Monrovia.
Kamara however, praised the high level of assistance being rendered by the UNMIL Jordanian and Pakistanis contingents in transporting stranded commuters. He then stressed the need for government to urgently rehabilitate the Monrovia-Gbarnga, and Mende-Kormah highways to make travel easy in the county.
