NINE PEOPLE died on the spot while several others are in critical condition after the 207 Benz bus they were travelling on collided dangerously with a tipper truck on the main Kumasi/Mampong road.
The accident occurred when the truck, which was laden with sand, suddenly crossed the path of the Benz bus, which was traveling at top speed on Friday morning around 11:00am.
The Ejura-bound 207 bus, registered GR 3212 V, somersaulted three times after colliding with the truck, following which it skidded on its side for about 50 meters before it finally stopped.
All the dead and injured people involved in the dangerous crash were on board the bus which was destroyed beyond repairs.
Earlier, there were reports that about 20 people had died in the accident, but it was later confirmed that only nine people died with several others sustaining serious injuries.
The injured persons were rushed to the Agona Government Hospital, Ankaase Methodist Hospital and the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi for treatment.
The dead persons, comprising seven males and two females, whose names were not immediately known, were also rushed to the KATH morgue for autopsy to confirm the cause of death.
Briefing DAILY GUIDE, Richard Karikari of the National Road Safety Management
team, said his outfit collaborated with the police, Fire Service and the national ambulance team to rescue the survivors of the deadly crash.
According to him, the 207 Benz bus, with 23 people, was from the Kumasi direction heading towards Ejura while the tipper truck, registered GR 8736 U, was joining the main Kumasi/Mampong road.
He said the tipper truck?s driver joined the main road at a portion in-between Asonomaso and Kona, possibly to head towards the Kumasi direction of the busy road.
Suddenly, the truck slowed down a bit after joining the road so the oncoming 207 bus driver, who was driving at top speed, rammed his vehicle into the back tyre of the truck.
Mr. Karikari noted that the bus somersaulted several times after the impact and this resulted in the roof of the bus tearing off, as it moved on its side for about 50 meters from the place of impact.
He said the sound of the crash drew the attention of people in the area so they quickly rushed to the accident scene to offer a helping hand to the injured.
According to him, when his team arrived at the scene, the entire place was covered with blood and damaged items belonging to the people on board the 207 bus which had been destroyed beyond recognition.
He said his team managed to rescue the injured persons and rushed them to nearby medical facilities for treatment while the dead persons were conveyed to the morgue.
Karikari said reports indicated that drivers often over speed on that stretch of the road, appealing to the police to implement measures to address the situation.
FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi
