By: Problyn J Alpha
A tragic road accident at Small Ngaiya along the Masingbi–Freetown highway in Nimikoro Chiefdom, Kono District, has claimed the lives of three people, including a taxi driver and two passengers.
According to Sgt. Amara B., attached to the Traffic Department at Motema Police Divisional Headquarters and the lead investigator of the accident, the incident occurred around 9 p.m. on Friday, 4th July 2025.
Sgt. Amara explained that a timber-loaded truck with registration number ASX 975, driven by Suilaman Keita, had broken down at Small Ngaiya. Shortly after the truck stopped, a commercial Mercedes-Benz mini-bus with registration number AWW 821, driven by Mohamed Dem, collided with the stationary truck. The mini-bus was carrying passengers who sustained serious injuries.
Police were promptly called to the scene and, with help from bystanders, the injured passengers were transported to Koidu Government Hospital for treatment. Initially, no fatalities were reported at the scene; however, one of the injured passengers later died while receiving medical care at the hospital.
Following the accident, the commercial mini-bus was removed from the site, while the broken-down truck remained, temporarily immobilized after one of its wheels was removed.
To prevent a recurrence, the head of operations, the district traffic officer, and other police personnel from Motema Police Divisional Headquarters visited the site. They installed crash barriers and warning signals both in front of and behind the stationary truck, and deployed an officer to monitor the area throughout the night.
Tragically, in the early hours of 5th July 2025, the deceased taxi driver, Abu Sidibay, driving a taxi with registration number AUR 133 at high speed, crashed through the crash barriers and struck the broken-down truck. The collision resulted in the immediate deaths of Abu Sidibay and his front-seat passenger, Chernor Jalloh.
The bodies were later taken to Koidu Government Hospital mortuary for postmortem examinations ahead of burial arrangements.
As of the time of reporting, both truck driver Suilaman Keita and mini-bus driver Mohamed Dem remain in police custody, assisting with the ongoing investigation. The deceased have been handed over to their respective families for burial.