A tragic accident at Amanase, near Suhum on the Accra-Kumasi highway in the early hours of Monday, has claimed the lives of 11 individuals.
The incident, which occurred around 5:00 am, involved a fuel tanker with registration number GR 1300-16 and a Sprinter bus registered GW 6510-23.
According to eyewitness accounts, the driver of the fuel tanker reportedly dozed off behind the wheel and his vehicle veered off its lane and crashed the oncoming Sprinter bus, resulting in the devastating collision.
“We saw the tanker moving strangely and before we knew it, it had crossed the lane and slammed into the Sprinter. It was a horrifying scene,” an eyewitness stated.
The Suhum Municipal Public Relations Officer for the Ghana National Fire Service, ADO1 Akonnor Opare Ohene Daniel, confirmed the incident to the media.
“Unfortunately, 11 persons were confirmed dead at the scene. Several others sustained varying degrees of injuries and were quickly transported to the Suhum Government Hospital for emergency care,” ADO1 Akonnor Opare stated.
The mate of the fuel tanker, who survived the crash gave an account which suggested that the driver may have dozed off behind the wheel.
“I was awake and tried to alert the driver when I noticed he wasn’t responding. It all happened too fast,” he said.