Tragedy struck along Harper Highway in Monrovia on March 25, 2024, as four individuals, believed to be students of William V.S. Tubman University, lost their lives in a devastating accident involving an ambulance reportedly affiliated with Partners in Health, a non-profit health organization. The collision occurred around noon when the victims, traveling on a motorcycle, collided with the ambulance, which was supporting the efforts of the county health team.
Among the deceased were three males and two females identified as Philip Williams, Standly Natt, Godfrey Dweh, and Marie Dennis, along with an unnamed patient. Despite immediate medical attention at J.J. Dossen Hospital, health workers sadly pronounced them dead upon arrival.Eyewitnesses recounted to the NewDawn newspaper that the ambulance, en route to Harper with a patient from Pleebo, suffered from severe mechanical issues. The collision with the motorcycle occurred amid these circumstances. Shockingly, the ambulance driver fled the scene amidst the commotion caused by angry onlookers.Further details emerged from eyewitnesses, revealing that the deceased were students from different academic levels at William V.S. Tubman University. The eyewitnesses expressed deep regret and concern, suggesting that the accident might have been exacerbated by the ambulance’s alleged speeding.
The incident stands as a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of road safety measures.Over the past few years, Maryland County in Liberia has been marred by a series of tragic road accidents, each leaving a trail of devastation and loss in its wake.
In May of the previous year, a heart-wrenching incident unfolded when a motorcycle collided with a Land Cruiser Pickup, resulting in the untimely demise of a 63-year-old resident, believed to be a pastor of the Assembly of God Church in the Southeastern Barrobo Statutory District of Maryland County. Tragically, a local journalist also perished in the same accident. Just a few months later, in October 2021, another grim accident occurred along the Pedebo-Plolo road near Yookudi town. Two people lost their lives in a collision involving two commercial motorbikes, while a third individual was left in critical condition, highlighting the recurring dangers on these roads. The following June, Maryland County witnessed yet another tragedy as a Field supervisorof a local company met his demise in a fatal crash involving two motorcycles in central Pleebo, adding to the mounting toll of road-related fatalities.The cycle of sorrow continued into August 2020 when a horrific accident claimed the lives of two individuals after motorcycles carrying three people, including the rider, collided with a refrigerated truck in Pleebo. The community was left reeling from yet another senseless loss of life.Looking back to August 2019, the county faced another devastating blow when an ambulance driver, along with two others, lost their lives in a collision with a truck belonging to China Railway near the Tubman Farm vicinity in Pleebo, Maryland County.These incidents have left many residents grappling with grief and frustration, with a prevailing belief that the majority of these accidents, as well as numerous others that go unreported, stem from alleged overspeeding and reckless driving practices. The ongoing tragedies underscore the urgent need for enhanced road safety measures and heightened awareness to prevent further loss of life on Maryland County’s roads.