By: Emmanuel Tarpeh Quiah In Maryland County
Two people narrowly escaped death on Thursday, October 2, when a commercial taxi veered off the road and plunged into nearby bushes along the Pleebo-Harper highway.
The accident occurred just past Sedeken Town, on the Harper side of the road, at a sharp curve that commuters have long described as a “death trap” because of its dangerous bend and history of fatal crashes.
According to eyewitness accounts, the taxi-bearing plate number 812575 and marked with the inscription “Exodus 14:14”-was traveling at high speed when the driver lost control. The vehicle swerved off the asphalt, skidded across loose gravel, and landed in the roadside thicket.
Despite the frightening scene, both the driver and his lone passenger miraculously walked away unhurt.
“It was a miracle,” said one bystander. “Everyone thought the car had overturned, but thank God they walked away safely.”
A truck from the Maryland Oil Palm Plantation later stopped to assist, helping to pull the taxi back onto the highway. The occupants quickly departed the area afterward.
According to several residents the Sedeken curve has become notorious for accidents due to a combination of poor road design, lack of warning signs, and reckless speeding. They noted that several past incidents at the same location have caused serious injuries and even fatalities.
Local leaders and daily commuters are once again appealing to the Ministry of Public Works, the Liberia National Police, and the Ministry of Transport to take urgent steps to improve safety. Their recommendations include, installing visible warning and speed limit signs, enforcing traffic regulations, and educating drivers on the risks of speeding, especially at curves.
Community members also issued a word of caution to drivers and motorcyclists, urging them to reduce their speed when approaching sharp bends.
“Speeding continues to be the leading cause of road accidents in Maryland County,” one resident stressed.
As calls for preventive measures intensify, the Sedeken curve remains a critical safety concern for commuters along the busy Pleebo-Harper route.