The deaths of roughly seven people in an accident at Obretema, close to Suhum, on the Accra Kumasi Highway, have prompted an inquiry by the Ghana Police Department’s Suhum Motor Transport and Traffic Department.
Around 4:30 am on Saturday, the VIP bus carrying seven people—five men and two women—that was traveling from Tamale to Accra collided with a petroleum tanker—registration number UE 9644-22. The victims, who were seven in number—reportedly perished instantly.
Reports state that the petrol tanker, which had swerved off its lane and collided with the bus when it reached a piece of road at Obretema, struck the bus.
Both cars experienced a flip due to the accident, which made the drivers lose control of the steering and send the bus into a ditch.
Responding quickly to the scene, members of the Ghana National Fire Service and the Ghana Police Service helped with the bodies’ extraction and evacuation. They were then sent to the government hospital in Suhum.
The police coordinated tow trucks to help transport the damaged cars to safety and controlled traffic on the stretch with the help of onlookers.
A number of additional injured people were also transported to the same hospital with the assistance of National Ambulance Service personnel.
Witnesses spoke
ADO1 Opare Akonnor who speaks for the Suhum Fire Service command noted “We had a call at 043hrs 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’
A few witnesses who arrived at the scene shortly after the tragedy also gave interviews to the media.
The public is being urged by the police to let family members know that loved ones who were traveling should come over for identification.
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