Seven persons have been confirmed dead while several others are seriously injured in an accident on the Accra – Kumasi Highway.
The accident occurred at about 4:30 am on Saturday, September 21, at Obretema near Suhum stretch.
The seven, five males and two females, reportedly died on the spot after a VIP Bus with registration number GR 7632-24 onboard with passengers crashed with a fuel tanker with registration number UE 9644-22.
According to reports, the tyre of the fuel tanker, which was travelling from Accra to Kumasi, burst, causing it to veer into the lane of the VIP Bus at Obretema.
The severity of the impact caused both vehicles to somersault, forcing both drivers to lose control of the steering wheel, landing the bus in a ditch.
Personnel from the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana National Fire Service who rushed to the scene assisted in the evacuation and retrieval of the bodies, which were later deposited at the Suhum government hospital.
The police, with the assistance of passersby, managed the traffic situation on the stretch and organised towing trucks to help move the mangled vehicles to safety.
Personnel of the National Ambulance Service also assisted in conveying several others who were injured to the same hospital.
ADO1 Opare Akonnor of the Suhum Fire Service command said,”We had a call at 0403 hours from the police that there had been an accident involving two vehicles, the tanker and the VIP bus. So, quickly, we dispatched our guys to the scene to come and help.
“We were able to rescue several people, but we cannot give the actual number of people we have been able to rescue. The accident occurred in the night. We handed over those we were able to rescue to the ambulance service for them to be taken to the hospital.”
Meanwhile, the Suhum Motor Transport and Traffic Department of the Ghana Police have commenced investigations into the accident.
The police are urging families who may have had relatives travelling on this route to come over for identification.