By Fulbert Yao
ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AA) – At least 14 people were killed on Monday in two accidents on the highway linking the Ivorian economic hub Abidjan to the north of the country, according to a report by military firefighters.
The first accident took place when a religious convoy deviated from the road, 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) from the capital Yamoussoukro, leaving six dead and 27 injured.
The second accident involved a collision between a transport minibus and a private vehicle followed by a fire 149 km (90 mi) from Abidjan, killing eight people and injuring 27.
All the injured were immediately evacuated to nearby hospitals for medical care.
On April 1, a collision between a bus and a heavy goods vehicle killed 16 people on the Ferkessedougou and Ouangolo axis, the northern part of the country.
Faced with an upsurge in accidents, Transport Minister Amadou Kone instructed his competent services to be more firm.
He urged the country's road safety police to increase their presence on the main roads. With the main mission of tracking down and repressing poor behavior on the roads.
Road accidents in the Ivory Coast are mainly caused by overspending, poor parking, mechanical problems, fatigue, and the consumption of alcohol or stimulants.
