UNHCR ACCIDENT CASE FILE

DATE OF ACCIDENT:                           November 29, 2017

HOUR OF ACCIDENT:                          Approximately Between 7:30 to 8pm

COMPANY VEHICLE INVOLVED:     UNHC/ARD

VICTIM’S NAME:                                 JOHN D. DOE

VICTIM’S AGE:                                     20 Years Young

ACCIDENT LOCATION:                       Rocktown Road, Harper City, Maryland County, R.L.

NATIONALITY:                                     Liberian

UNHCR/ARD FIELD REP:                     Phillip Donkan 0886538987

On November 29, 2017, an accident occurred along the Rocktown/Fishtown Road in Harper, Maryland County, Liberia. The vehicle involved in the accident is owned and operated by The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)/ARD. The victim in the accident is a young man by the name of John D. Doe.

On that fateful day, I am told by my client, which was corroborated by the Chauffeur, that UNHCR/ARD organized and sponsored a sporting activity in the Little Wlebo Refugee Camp. The games were organized by UNHCR between the Refugee and the host communities (Rocktown, Middletown and Fishtown). I am told the event was mainly organized for the youths and children in the vicinity. And so UNHCR/ARD dispatched two of its tonnage trucks to collect youths from the three towns mentioned above. I am told by the chauffeur that in the morning hours around 9 to 10am, his truck headed to Rocktown and Middletown to pick up the youths in that area. The other truck, I am told, headed for Fishtown to pick the youths in that area. The chauffeur said the pick-up of the young people from his assigned area was very successful. And so were the games. According to the Chauffeur, the problem came when the games were over and the trucks began to return the young people back to their destinations.

I am told by the Chauffeur that the kids began to hang on the truck as he was departing the games area. The Chauffeur told me that each time he stopped to put the kids down from his truck, they would return on the truck as soon as he (chauffeur) hops back in the truck. According to the Chauffeur, the kids continue this activity for a while until he could no longer take it anymore. My client (the kid, John D. Doe) tells me that, it was at this point when the Chauffeur was upset that he (chauffeur) decided to adapt a don’t-care attitude. My client tells me that the Chauffeur would then speed off excessively with the truck and abruptly step on the brakes to make an abrupt stop. At this point when the truck stops abruptly, the kids would then fall off in the grass. The Chauffeur did this continuously until most of the kids fell off the truck. My client tells me that at one point in the dark, the Chauffeur did the same speed off and applied brakes. This time when the Chauffeur applied his brakes, the victim, John D. Doe fell from inside the cabin outside on the road. According to John, while he was on the ground, the Chauffeur decided to reverse the truck. And seeing the truck coming towards him, the victim tells me, he made an attempt to dodge the huge tires by flipping his body on the side of the road. But he was too slow for the truck. The truck back tires faintly rode over his lower body thereby damaging his pelvis. I am told the other kids in the truck began to alarm to call the Chauffeur’s attention to stop because someone had dropped from the truck and was lying on the ground in the dark. I am told, the Chauffeur paid no heed. He just drove off. My client, (the victim) tells me that at that point on the ground, he began to feel blood coming between his legs. So he started to cry out for help. But he was alone in the dark. Luckily for him, a motorbike came by. The rider heard the crying and stopped. Due to the huge amount of blood pouring from the kid, the rider asked his passenger to help him mount the victim on the bike. When they mounted the victim on the bike, they took off for the Rocktown clinic. When they got at the Clinic, due to the pool of blood, the staff at the clinic could do nothing but to call for Ambulance from J. J. Dossen Hospital in Harper – approximately one hour driving time from the clinic to the Hospital in Harper City. Due to the pain being experienced by the kid and the continued profuse bleeding, coupled with the delay of the Ambulance, a Good Samaritan paid for the bike to take the kid to Harper. I am told by the bike rider and his passenger, while taking the kid to the Rocktown clinic, they met with the Chauffeur who was returning from Rocktown where he dropped off the other kids. I’m told that they stopped the Chauffeur to inform him of what had happened to the kid. The bike rider and passenger said the Chauffeur said that he didn’t care. And he drove off.

By the time the bike rider got to the intersection of Rocktown/Fishtown road and Pleebo road, the Ambulance showed up. And so they transferred the kid to the Ambulance. He was then taken to the J. J. Dossen Hospital for medical treatment in Harper City. He remained at J. J. Dossen for a week. After one week treatment, the Doctor advised that the kid seeks help of an orthopedist either in Monrovia or Tapita. He then was discharged. Few days later, he was readmitted at the J. J. Dossen Hospital due to the intensity of the pain but released again for lack of an orthopedist. This was between Xmas, Runoff Election and New Year’s. And so, nothing seemed to be working with the usual speed. All in all, we were able to fly him to Monrovia for additional medical treatment where he currently is.

I contacted the police for the accident report. I was referred to one Mr. Woart of UNHCR (0886524543) in Monrovia. On Tuesday, December 19, 2017 at 10:25am I spoke with Mr. Woart. He confirmed receiving the accident information from Commander Neufville of the Maryland Police Detachment. But he also told me that he (Woart) has not gotten in touch with the Insurance man of his company. He then gave me the name of the man (Jallah Cole, and his number, 0886544540). I called and spoke with Mr. Cole on Tuesday, December 19, 2017 at 11:33am. He informed me that he had not heard of the accident. And so, having heard about the accident from me, he was now rushing in his office to compile some notes. He advised for me to call him the next day. Because he expected the UNHCR/ARD office in Harper to forward the information to him by then.

In our conversation, I informed both Woart and Cole that I am responsible for the kid’s legal interest (s) as an advocate. I duly informed them the family elected me to represent their interest. I also informed them that the kid’s case was critical. And that J.J. Dossen Hospital had re-admitted him. I told them that initially, we were attempting to send the kid to Tapita Hospital due to the severity of his medical condition, but we could not. However, I was making frantic efforts to send him to Monrovia at my own expense if the UNHCR/ARD is not willing to help. And indeed, the UNHCR/ARD insurance by the name of Equity Insurance blatantly refused to help even though the accident occurred in a vehicle they have insured.

Up to this moment, UNHCR/ARD refused to help. I convened series of meetings with one of their officers in charge in Harper by the name of Phillip Donkan and the Chauffeur. They admitted the accident occurred in their truck. In fact, they helped with few dollars and transportation for the kid to attend medical treatment and purchase food.

Currently, the kid is in Monrovia with a relative on doctor’s advice. Both the insurance and UNHCR/ARD care less for the kid’s medical and human condition. We are depending on friends and humanitarians to keep him alive. He’s out of school. Whether or not he will be able to go to school again, have kids and play as a young man, is something we are skeptical about. Because the medical condition is worsening every day.

T. Gbuo-Mle Bedell/Social Justice Advocate