As more details emerge from the tragic motor accident near Salala in Bong County, the Liberia National Police (LNP) Detachment has recovered several lumps of a brownish material suspected to be gold, along with cellphones and other personal items. The belongings were retrieved from the hand luggage of Josiah S. Doenunneh, a passenger confirmed dead following the crash on the Monrovia–Gbarnga Highway.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) William Johnson, Commander of the LNP Bong County Detachment, informed reporters that the street value of the suspected gold has not yet been determined. He assured the public that the police are safeguarding the recovered items until they can be formally identified by the deceased’s relatives. The LNP is appealing to the public to help locate the family of the late Josiah S. Doenunneh so that the items can be properly verified and transferred through the appropriate legal process.
The accident involved a white Toyota Land Cruiser Hightop owned by the Catholic Diocese of Cape Palmas. The vehicle was traveling from Ganta toward Monrovia when the driver lost control, causing the vehicle to swerve violently off the main highway and crash into the nearby bush. Eyewitnesses reported that the vehicle’s rear tire catastrophically exploded just before the crash.
According to first responders, six occupants sustained serious injuries and were rushed to nearby health facilities for urgent treatment. Two male passengers, including Mr. Doenunneh, were killed upon impact. While the investigation into this specific crash is ongoing, local road safety advocates point out that the tragedy highlights a deadly cocktail of systemic issues plaguing Liberia’s highways:
Reckless Driving: Motorists frequently treat the Monrovia–Gbarnga Highway as a racetrack, routinely engaging in aggressive overtaking and excessive speeding with little regard for passenger safety. Poorly Trained Vulcanizers: A widespread lack of formal training among local roadside vulcanizers often leads to tires being dangerously over-inflated. Under the intense heat of highway driving, these over-pressurized, worn-out tires become ticking time bombs, frequently resulting in deadly blowouts like the one witnessed in this accident.
Absence of Police Enforcement: Despite the soaring rate of highway fatalities, there remains a glaring lack of enforcement regarding speed limits and vehicle roadworthiness on the part of the police. Without consistent radar monitoring, checkpoints, and strict penalties for speeding, the highway remains perilous for travelers. Public Appeal: Authorities are urging anyone with information regarding the relatives of Josiah S. Doenunneh to immediately contact the Liberia National Police in Bong County.
