SOLDIERS INJURE CIVILIAN AND BOLT (Page 21)

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Bolgatanga

A group of military men are said to have knocked down a middle-aged man on the Bolgatanga-Navrongo highway and bolted.
The accident occurred around 6.00 p.m. last Saturday at the SSNIT traffic lights intersection in Bolgatanga. Instead of stopping to convey the victim to hospital, the soldiers, who had initially attempted to speed off, returned to the accident spot, did a few maneuverings and took off again, leaving the victim at the spot where he fell.
The victim was later identified as Azure Amere, a farmer. He sustained injuries on his forehead, upper lip, right shoulder and left ankle and was taken to the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital by by-standers who looked on helpless as the soldiers sped off.
An eyewitness told the Daily Graphic that the victim was crossing the road on a bicycle when the military vehicle with registration number 37 GA 86, which was moving at top speed, knocked him off his bike.
He said initially the soldiers attempted to speed off, but they were booed by onlookers and this forced them to return to the spot.
He said the soldiers alighted from the vehicle, but instead of conveying the victim to hospital, they only took a look at him and sped off again towards Tamale.
When this reporter arrived at the scene, a crowd had gathered around the traffic lights, which had not been functioning for quite some time.
A check at the hospital revealed that the victim, who did not have a health insurance card, was being attended to.
Checks at the Bolgatanga Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) later in the evening, indicated that the soldiers had not reported the accident to the police.
The MTTU officials said any person operating a motor vehicle and was involved in an accident, was required by law to stop at a safe place, provide information to the owner of whatever property might have been damaged, whether it be a car, a person or property and render aid to anyone thus injured, if necessary.
They said those who caused property damage and were unable to identify or contact the property’s owner, were required to leave a note with contact information and file an accident report with the police.