Truck Driver Sentenced to Six Months with Hard Labour Following New Train Accident

• Abel Dzidotor has been identified as the driver who left his truck on a portion of the new Tema-Mpakadan railway line causing the accident 
• Dzidotor was arrested and sent to court
• The court has sentenced him to a six-month jail term with hard labour for causing lawful damage

Abel Dzidotor, the truck driver allegedly responsible for the recent train accident on the Tema-Mpakadan railway line, has been handed a six-month jail term with hard labour after admitting guilt to three out of four charges in court.

Benjamin Aklama, representing Dzidotor, disclosed that his client pleaded guilty to charges of inconsiderate driving, unauthorized stopping, and causing lawful damage. As a result, Dzidotor was sentenced to 100 penalty units for careless and inconsiderate driving, which could potentially equate to a 20-month prison term if left unpaid. Additionally, for unauthorized stopping, Dzidotor received a sentence of 20 penalty units, equivalent to a five-month jail term if the fine remains unsettled.

Abel Dzidotor

Furthermore, Dzidotor was handed a six-month sentence with hard labour for causing lawful damage.

However, Dzidotor contested the fourth charge of failing to produce a driver’s license, asserting that it was within the damaged vehicle.

The court has granted him until May 9, 2024, to present the license, with potential consequences for failure to comply.

Following the accident involving the newly imported train from Poland during a test run, the Ghana Police Service arrested Dzidotor.

Preliminary investigations unveiled that Dzidotor had left the Hyundai truck with registration number GS 9018 – 20 unattended on the railway line, leading to a collision with the train as he endeavored to deliver cement blocks.