The 16-year-old boy involved in a fatal high-speed collision in East Legon, Accra, that killed two young girls has been remanded for a second time.

The juvenile faces eight charges, including manslaughter, negligently causing harm, dangerous driving, and driving without a licence.

He pleaded not guilty to all charges when he first appeared before the Family and Juvenile Court.

Due to the case’s sensitive nature, the proceedings have been closed to the public, making it unclear if the boy has been sent to a correctional facility or placed in the custody of his parents, as outlined under section 23 of Ghana’s Juvenile Justice Act, 2003 (ACT 653).

His next court appearance is scheduled for Wednesda, 13 November.

Assistant State Attorney Ebenezer Yaw Acquah presented the details, stating that despite the juvenile’s age and lack of a driving licence, his family frequently allowed him access to their cars.

On Saturday, 12 October 2024, the family held a birthday celebration for the boy, identified as Elyon, at an event centre in East Legon. During the event, Elyon requested the keys to his mother’s Jaguar F-Pace from his personal assistant, Linda Bonsu Bempah, who was overseeing the party.

Linda handed him the keys, and Elyon took the car, accompanied by a friend, to meet others at the A&C Mall. Forming a convoy with two other SUVs, the group drove through East Legon, with Elyon leading in the Jaguar.

Prosecutors say Elyon reached high speeds, ignoring the road conditions and approaching a T-junction recklessly. At the junction on Mensah Wood Avenue, Elyon’s Jaguar collided with the rear of an Acura, driven by Joseph Ackah, who was transporting his boss’s two daughters and their friends.

The impact was so severe that both cars were thrown across the street and slammed into a nearby wall, sparking an intense fire that destroyed an ECG pole and both vehicles.s

The Jaguar’s driver and his passenger managed to escape the wreckage, but the passengers in the Acura, including a toddler, were trapped. Bystanders used fire extinguishers in an attempt to control the blaze.

The driver of the Acura was pulled to safety after forcing his door open, and volunteers rescued the toddler and her sister from the back seat. However, two other 12-year-old girls remained trapped as the fire intensified, preventing further rescue efforts.

The prosecutor asserted that the investigation revealed Elyon’s reckless driving endangered both pedestrians and other drivers. Elyon admitted to the police that he took the keys, picked up his friend, and drove to the mall, actions that culminated in the tragic accident.