Court fines driver GH¢21,600 for fatal accident while driving drunk
An Accra Circuit Court has convicted 34-year-old Yaw Takyi Jones, who caused the death of two people while driving under the influence of alcohol.
Jones has been sentenced to pay a fine of GH¢21,600, and in default, he will serve a 12-month prison sentence.
Jones pleaded guilty to charges of careless and inconsiderate driving, two counts of negligently causing harm, and driving under the influence of alcohol.
During his plea for mitigation, he asked the court to show mercy, explaining that he had consumed alcohol after attending a funeral before being asked by his manager to deliver goods to a shop.
He further stated that he had refrained from drinking alcohol since the incident occurred.
During proceedings, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Nana Oppong urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence on Yaw Takyi Jones, highlighting his lack of awareness of the fatal consequences of his actions.
DSP Oppong explained that Jones had told the police he was unaware that he had killed two people in the accident, and it was only after being informed by witnesses that he realized the severity of the crash.
The prosecution further emphasized that Jones had been speeding at the time of the incident, which contributed to him losing control of the vehicle and hitting the two individuals, who were walking on the shoulder of the road.
After hearing submissions from both the defense and prosecution, the trial judge, Mr. Samuel Bright Acquah, stated that Yaw Takyi Jones could have declined his boss’s request to drive, given that he was intoxicated.
The judge also noted that Jones’s excessive speed contributed to the fatal accident.
According to the prosecution, on January 20, 2020, around 1830 hours, Jones was driving a Kia Rhino truck with registration number GS 3592-13 from Shalom Spot roundabout toward Community 17, in the direction of Paradise Washing Bay.
As he approached a curve near the Tema Municipal Assembly’s Old Lashibi School Junction, Jones failed to observe proper traffic regulations.
Without due care or attention to other road users, he lost control of the truck, skidded off the road, and struck two men—Kingsley Kwame Amponsah, 29, and Joe De-Graft, 27—who were standing by the roadside near a fence wall.
Both victims were killed instantly. Their bodies were transported to the Police Hospital Mortuary for preservation and autopsy.
During the investigation, it was noted that Jones appeared intoxicated and had a strong smell of alcohol on his breath at the time of the accident.
He was tested with an Alco-meter Sensor, which recorded a blood alcohol level of 0.33 percent—significantly higher than the legal limit of 0.08 percent.
Source: GNA