Ten
personnel of the Police Intervention Unit (PIU), one soldier and an immigration
officer were “seriously injured” when their patrol vehicle somersaulted at a
village near Mansakonko in Lower River Region on Friday, the police spokesman
said.
In
addition, the driver of the police patrol vehicle, Sergeant Faal, was
pronounced dead at Soma Major Health Centre where the victims were escorted for
urgent medical attention.
According
to the police spokesman, Inspector Foday Conta, the accident occurred between
the hours of 10:30pm and 11:00pm on Friday when members of the Police
Intervention Unit of Mansakonko base boarded a vehicle with registration number
GPF 9 MKK, driven by Sergeant Faal.
The
men were going on an official duty at a checkpoint in Kaiaf to relieve those on
duty.
“Immediately
after Sara-Samba village, entering Kaiaf village, at a sharp bend, the rear
tire of the pick-up burst and the driver was unable to control the vehicle
steadily,” Conta said.
“Suddenly,
the vehicle swayed from the highway and somersaulted, causing serious injuries
to all those onboard.”
The
victims were escorted to Soma Major Health Centre where Sergeant Faal, the
driver, was pronounced dead.
The
others were referred to Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital in Banjul for
further medical treatment.
