YARPAH TOWN, River Cess – A one-year-old has been injured in a car accident that has led to the amputation of the child’s right hand.
The accident occurred on the morning of May 23 in River Cess. A taxi carrying six passengers from Cestos to Monrovia lost control and flipped on the driver’s side.
The baby and his mother, Karfie Dukely, were seated in the passenger seat behind the driver when the accident occurred. Other passengers reported seeing the child’s right hand outside the car when it overturned.
The injury was so severe that medical officials at the River Cess District Hospital had to amputate the injured hand. No other passenger sustained major injuries.
The surgery was done at the River Cess District Hospital in Gbediah Town. Photo: Eric Opa Doue.
According to Amos Tokpaqueh, River Cess’ chief of traffic, this is the 14th reported road accident in the county since January, although others went unreported. Speaking to The Bush Chicken at the Yarpah Town Police Station, Tokpaqueh said the improved road condition is responsible for most of the accidents, as motorists have considerably increased their speed.
“During the rainy season, when the road is not good, accidents can be reduced,” he said. “But so long the road is good, then that is [when] the cases of accident can increase.”
The county has been fortunate that no death has been recorded so far, but there have been significant injuries.
The 52-kilometer stretch of road from Buchanan, Grand Bassa to River Cess has been in fairly good condition this year. In January, Bea Mountain Mining Company reconditioned the road from Big Joe Town in Grand Bassa to ITI in River Cess. Additionally, the government is rehabilitating the River Cess to Grand Bassa corridor.
Featured photo by Eric Opa Doue
