Abel Dzidotor receives six-month jail term for his role in the Tema-Mpakadan railway line collision.
Abel Dzidotor, the driver implicated in the train accident on the Tema-Mpakadan railway line, has been sentenced to a six-month jail term. This development follows his admission of guilt to three out of four charges leveled against him, as reported by Citi News’ Benjamin Aklama.
Dzidotor pleaded guilty to charges including careless and inconsiderate driving, unauthorized stopping, and causing unlawful damage. These offenses are violations of various sections of the RTA Act 683 (2004) and Act 2960. For the charge of careless driving, he received a sentence of 100 penalty units, equivalent to a potential 20-month prison term if not paid. The unauthorized stopping charge earned him 20 penalty units or a five-month jail term if unpaid. Additionally, for causing unlawful damage, Dzidotor was sentenced to six months of hard labor.
However, Dzidotor pleaded not guilty to the fourth charge, which was failing to produce a driver’s license as per regulation 47(2) of LI 21(80). He asserted that his license was within the damaged vehicle and has been instructed to present it to the court by May 9, 2024, to avoid further consequences.
The breakdown of my truck on the rail line was a pure coincidence – Vehicle Owner explains circumstances surrounding train accident.#GHOneNews #GHOneTV pic.twitter.com/CziUV6Unou
— GHOne TV (@ghonetv) April 19, 2024
The Ghana Police Service arrested Dzidotor after their preliminary investigation revealed that he had left his Hyundai truck unattended on the railway line, leading to a collision with the newly imported train from Poland during a test run. The incident occurred when Dzidotor, while delivering cement blocks, encountered difficulty maneuvering the truck under a bridge and it became stuck on the rail.
This case highlights the importance of adherence to traffic regulations and responsible driving practices to prevent accidents and ensure public safety on roadways and railways.