By Fatoumatta Conteh / Sariba Manneh
Road accidents anywhere can be unfortunate incidents which can result in material damage or loss of life or both. However, here in The Gambia, road accidents are becoming unfathomable. This is because a fatal road accident believed to have occurred in the late hours of Tuesday, 28th February 2023, in New Yundum, claimed yet again the life of one Ba Alagie Jabang, a resident of the said community.
According to eyewitnesses, the incident took place on the said date between 1am and 2am in the morning, which led to the sudden demise of the above mentioned victim.
Muhhammed Sey, an eye witness who has a shop where the accident happened, said it took place when he closed his shop, to buy dinner nearby; That this was when he met the victim who was also going home, at a time when the vehicle that caused the accident, was coming at fullest of speeds, and all of a sudden one of his tyres burst, making the driver to lose control of his vehicle to knock with impact, his victim. He said the victim was running for his life but could not escape from the terrible incident and was immediately rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced death upon arrival. The driver did not only hit and kill the victim but also seriously collided and damaged a taxi. Due to the gravity of the accident, an angry mob who are said to be friends of the deceased, set the driver’s vehicle ablaze.
One Adama Jallow, another eyewitness said while he was asleep, one of the boys called him and told him to wake up to see what was happening outside his shop. He said when he opened the door, he saw a blaze fire.
“That was the time I rushed and brought a bucket of water to put out the fire, before it caused too much damage,” he said.
Speaking to members of the victim’s family, they disclosed that the late Ba Alagie Jabang was the breadwinner of his family and was doing his best at the time of the accident, taking care of his sick mother and siblings. They indicate that his death has created a big vacuum in their family and prayed that his soul rest in peace.
