A broken-down tricycle, commonly known as an ‘aboboyaa’, may have been the first in a chain of events that resulted in the deadly multiple-vehicle crash at Ofankor Barrier on the Accra-Nsawam Highway.
The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) says preliminary information gathered from the scene suggests that the stationary tricycle may have contributed to the crash, which has claimed 12 lives.
Speaking on Thursday after the incident, Senior Planning Manager at the NRSA, Felix Owusu, explained that a tipper truck carrying sand had stopped behind the broken-down tricycle. Two Sprinter buses carrying passengers also reportedly stopped behind the truck.
According to him, another tipper truck approached the stationary vehicles at high speed and crashed into the line of vehicles.
He said the location of the crash, close to a curve, may have limited the approaching driver’s ability to react in time.
The force of the collision triggered a series of further crashes involving the other vehicles, resulting in several deaths and injuries.
The accident occurred at about 4 a.m. between the Ofankor Barrier and the John Teye enclave. Seven vehicles were involved, including two tipper trucks, two Sprinter buses, two saloon cars and the tricycle.
The death toll has risen to 12, while 22 other victims are currently receiving treatment at various hospitals.
Mr Owusu, however, cautioned against treating the preliminary account as the confirmed cause of the accident. He said the information currently available was largely based on accounts from bystanders.
He explained that investigators would have to obtain statements from surviving drivers and passengers before determining exactly how the accident occurred.
The NRSA is therefore awaiting a comprehensive police report detailing the circumstances surrounding the initial collision and the subsequent crashes.
Mr Owusu stressed that the final findings would be necessary to establish the official cause of the tragedy and determine the factors that contributed to the loss of lives.
