TWENTY-ONE people have been confirmed dead, while several more are seriously injured and receiving treatment after a horrific vehicular collision on Friday.
The tragedy occurred about 5:50 p.m. when a speeding Ford Transit Mini Bus and a VW Sprinter Bus collided head-on at Juaso-Nkwakwa road near the Pra River Junction on the main Accra-Kumasi Highway.
According to reports, 14 persons died on the spot, with the remaining seven passing away later at Konongo and Juaso Government Hospitals, where they were taken for treatment.
The drivers of the two vehicles were reported to be among the dead. One of them, Yaw Egyiri, the driver of the Ford Transit Mini Bus, was blamed for the fatal accident.
According to a police report obtained by the paper, Egyiri was driving from Konongo to Accra when he made a wrong overtaking manoeuvre at the Pra River Junction, resulting in the tragedy.
“Preliminary investigation indicates that suspect driver Yaw Egyiri (deceased) was driving a Ford Transit Mini Bus with registration number GR 6279-24 from Konongo towards Accra with passengers on board.
“On reaching a section of the road at Pra River Junction area along Juaso-Nkawkaw motor road, he carelessly overtook some vehicles and collided head-on with an oncoming VW Sprinter Bus with registration No. AS 4483-23, driven by a driver yet to be identified and also deceased, with passengers onboard,” the police said.
According to police, the bodies of the 21 people have been deposited at the Stewards Hospital mortuary at Yawkwei, the Konongo Municipal Hospital mortuary, and the Juaso Government Hospital mortuary for identification, preservation, and autopsy.
The police report said, “The surviving victims are currently receiving medical attention at the Juaso Government Hospital, Stewards Hospital at Yawkwei, Konongo Municipal Hospital and Asante Akim Agogo Presbyterian Hospital.”
The police also requested persons whose relatives may have travelled along the highway where the motor accident occurred on Friday but have not been in touch to contact the Juaso and Nkawkaw Police Commands for assistance in identifying the accident victims, including those who have died.
“While we commiserate with the affected families, we continue to entreat all road users to be disciplined, demonstrate a sense of humanity and adhere to road regulations in order to avoid such preventable accidents,” the police report advised.
By I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr & Prince Fiifi Yorke