The accident scene
A fatal accident that occurred on the Sunyani-Abesim Highway on Saturday claimed the life of a taxi driver, Osman Sumala, while six others were injured.
The vehicles involved in the accident – which occurred at Abesim near Sunyani at about 1pm – were an Opel Astra taxi with registration number GR 5921- U, loaded with tomatoes, and a Toyota Camry with registration number BA 393-16.
The Brong-Ahafo Regional Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service, Superintendent Stella Sedame, told Graphic Online that the Toyota Camry was moving from Sunyani towards Abesim whilst the taxi cab was heading towards Sunyani with a passenger on board.
She explained that on reaching a sharp curve near the Samaritan Guest House at Abesim, the driver of the Camry, who was said to be speeding, lost control and collided with the Opel taxi.
Supt Sedame said all the occupants on board both vehicles who were badly injured, were rushed to the Sunyani Government Hospital for treatment but the driver of the taxi died later. The six are receiving treatment.
Supt Sedame stated that the driver of the Camry, Charles Yeboah, with the four occupants, came to Abesim from Techiman to attend a wedding ceremony.
Whilst the wedding was ongoing, the bridegroom was said to have sent them to go and buy water for the gathering.
Before the police and the Ghana National Fire Serves (GNFS) team reached the scene, residents and some shop owners had managed to remove the victims from the vehicles and sent them to the hospital.
Eyewitnesses said that it took about 15 minutes to rescue the victims who were trapped in the vehicles.