An unidentified woman has been knocked down and killed by a passenger train operating on the Tema-Afienya railway line at Mataheko-Sebrepo, prompting residents to renew calls for the construction of a footbridge to improve pedestrian safety.

The incident occurred on Tuesday night, leaving the woman’s body severely dismembered, with her head reportedly thrown into a nearby gutter.

Some residents at the scene had to search for the woman’s head following the impact.

The accident reportedly took several hours before the police arrived, forcing residents to take steps to protect the remains while waiting for the authorities.

When the news crew arrived at the scene around 9:30 p.m., residents said several distress calls had been made to the relevant authorities, but no immediate response had been received.

Eyewitnesses said they heard the train sound its horn before hearing an unusual noise, which prompted them to realise that an accident had occurred.

Following the incident, residents renewed their appeal to the authorities to construct a footbridge linking communities in the area to provide pedestrians with a safer means of crossing the railway line.

They say such infrastructure is necessary to reduce the risk of similar accidents and protect lives in the communities along the railway corridor.

The woman’s body has since been conveyed by the Afienya-Mataheko Police.