Okyere Adarkwah moved here from Africa to get a job so that he could send money home to his mother and father. He was on the way to work at Home Depot in Fairfax last Friday morning when he crashed into a pickup truck on Richmond Highway and was killed.
Adarkwah's uncle, Albert, Owusu, lives in the States and said that his nephew was a very hard worker.
"He was a supervisor in most of his jobs," said Owusu. "We are very sorry, he came here to work hard and support his parents. It was very tragic, we all mourn his loss."
Driving with Adarkwah were some of his co-workers. Also killed was Eric Duah. Owusu said that one other person in the car was released, but another was still critically injured.
THE REPORT from the Fairfax County Police Department said that the accident occurred when Adarkwah was driving southbound on Richmond Highway and lost control on a curve; he crossed the double yellow line and struck a small pickup truck in the northbound lanes. The driver of the pickup truck was transported to Inova Fairfax Hospital, but had non-life threatening injuries. Because of the accident, Richmond Highway was closed down for more than three hours north of Telegraph Road.
Owusu's wife, Grace, said, "He [Okyere] is a nice, handsome boy. He was the only one that his family depended on. He was living with us until he could get his own place."
Services for Adarkwah are scheduled for Friday, Nov. 28, at 6 p.m., at Greene Funeral Home. An African ceremony will take place immediately after at the ABC Auditorium in Springfield. Owusu said that Adarkwah's body will be sent back to Africa to be buried near his family.