Eleven persons have been confirmed dead in an accident that occurred at Amanase in the Eastern Region.
Several others who sustained life threatening injuries are receiving treatment at the Suhum Government Hospital and other facilities.
The accident involved a Sprinter bus with registration number GW 6510-23 and a fuel tanker with registration number GR1300-16.
The two vehicles heading opposite direction on the Accra-Kumasi highway collided head on.
All eleven fatalities were passengers aboard the Sprinter bus heading towards Kumasi.
Those in critical conditions have been transferred to Koforidua Central Hospital and other health facilities.
Preliminary findings suggest the tanker driver may have dozed off and veered off its lane into that of the oncoming Sprinter bus, resulting in the accident.
“We were heading to Accra from Kumasi, we started the journey from Kumasi around 12:00am. We stopped by at Konongo to work on two of our tyres. I was actually tired and dozed off, until I saw our vehicle veered off its lane into the opposite lane. The other driver tried to move to the shoulders but could not control his wheels, it was too late, apparently, he might have been sleeping off too,” a passenger who survived said.
Personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service, Police and Ambulance Service rescued victims trapped in the mangled vehicle.
“We received an emergency call and responded swiftly along with the Police and Ambulance Service, together we rescued trapped victims. Our initial findings indicate the tanker driver veered of its lane into the lane of the sprinter bus which was heading to Kumasi from Accra,” a Fire Service Officer at the scene said.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Rita Adjei Awatey, who was at the scene of the accident cautioned drivers to adhere to road regulations to prevent such incidents.
She gave the caution after visiting victims at the Suhum Government Hospital.
“I want to take this opportunity to advise drivers to take a break and rest on the road when traveling on long journeys. We need to abide by the road regulations to reduce the accident statistics and safe human resource,” she urged.
