YARPAH TOWN, River Cess – Two people have died in a tragic road accident in River Cess, while two others are critically injured.

The accident occurred on the morning of June 7 when two motorcycles collided head-on while both riders attempted to dodge a broken-down vehicle in the middle of the road. The accident took place about 100 yards away from the Yarpah Town Police Station.

One bike carried three passengers and headed to Buchanan from Sinoe, while the other was an operations bike for the Joint Security in Yarpah Town.

Moses Cherue operated the security bike. He was rushed to the River Cess District Hospital in Gbediah Town and was later pronounced dead by health authorities.

Junior Chea, the operator of the other bike and a resident of Jacksonville, Sinoe, was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.

Passengers Morris T. Kolliesuah and another person, both in critical condition, received emergency treatment at the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit before being transferred to the John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Monrovia.

Kolliesuah is a resident of Monrovia, but according to Emmanuel Kpantoe, a friend with whom he was traveling, they both had gone to search for a job with Bea Mountain. Kpantoe said both men decided to return to Monrovia to see their families when the accident occurred.

“Morris and I were in ITI this morning, and we decided to return to Monrovia,” Kpantoe said. “But we could not ride the same bike because we both are fat, so we saw this bike from Sinoe coming [in] this direction, and that was how he said he was coming with the bike, and we left behind – only for me to come and meet the bike he was riding on the accident scene.” Chea’s body was turned over to his father, Romeo Chea, and taken to Sinoe for burial.

River Cess’ traffic police chief, Amos Tokpaqueh, says the recent accident has brought the county’s total number of road accidents to 15. He expressed concern about the alarming rate of motor accidents. He said there is a need to train vehicle operators, especially bike riders.

Featured photo by Eric Opa Doue