Maryland, one of the counties of Liberia, is engulfed in bad road conditions, a situation that has led to the death of a 55-year-old man while fetching daily food for himself and his family.
The man, identified as David Flomo, met his untimely demise while crossing a nearly broken bridge made of sticks between Wutuken and Pomuken Towns.
The incident occurred on Sunday, September 8, 2024.
David, known for running daily transportation for commuters, was reportedly carrying rubber latex from Pomuken Town to Wutuken Town when he crossed the poorly built stick bridge between the two towns in Maryland County.
While crossing with the heavily loaded motorbike, the victim fell off the bridge, landing in the creek with the bike and the load weighing down on his head.
Meanwhile, a 15-member coroner’s jury set up to investigate the matter confirmed that the victim drowned and there was no foul play involved.
On the other hand, security personnel cautioned cyclists to strictly adhere to safety measures.
“You can’t have these kinds of loads behind you and cross this type of stick bridge. We are calling on all cyclists and even drivers to take precautions regarding safety measures because your life comes first in whatever you do,” Police Detective Jimmy Kaydor pointed out.
Furthermore, the sudden demise of David Flomo has instilled fear among community dwellers of Pomuken and Wutuken, making it almost impossible for them to commute.
However, local authorities in that part of Liberia have sent an SOS to the government and partners to aid them as the situation continues to worsen.
“The whole thing is making us afraid. Our government and other goodwill individuals should please help us to build our bridges. We have too many federal roads in this district,” Mr. Davis pleaded.
Reports indicate that most towns in the rural parts of Maryland (District 3, Karluway) have a significant number of bridges, many of which are built with sticks.
This incident underscores the urgency for humanitarian institutions and government officials in Maryland County to act immediately to save lives.
By: Peter P. Toe, Jr./ Correspondent
