Nine students of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) yesterday died in a gory accident at Asuboi, a suburb of Suhum, on the Accra-Kumasi highway.
The Hyundai Universe commercial bus, in which the students were travelling, crashed into a stationed articulated track, killing the nine on the spot while several others sustained various degrees of injuries.
Reports say the driver of the bus, with registration number AK324-22, failed to observe traffic regulations because he was allegedly sleeping.
A 40-footer truck loaded with wood fell onto the road due to the impact of the accident, allegedly killing eight persons instantly.
Incident
The Public Relations Officer of the Eastern Regional Police Command, DSP Ebenezer Tetteh, who confirmed the incident, said the suspect driver, yet to be identified, was travelling from Sunyani to Accra.
He pointed out that on-the-spot investigations indicated that “the driver of the said commercial bus failed to observe traffic ahead whilst he was allegedly sleeping”.
He added: “In the process, he crashed into a 40-footer container loaded with wood, which fell partially on the road as a result of a previous accident. The passengers who sustained the injuries have been transported to the Suhum Government Hospital, and are receiving treatment”.
According to DSP Tetteh, the lifeless remains were deposited at the Suhum Government Hospital morgue awaiting autopsy.
The incident happened less than 24hours after a similar fatal accident claimed the life of one passenger at the Akyem Anyinasin stretch of the Accra-Kumasi-Highway. Eighteen passengers were also injured in the process.
Reports say the incident occurred after Toyota Hiace also collided head-on with a Kia Rhino with registration number GX 8415-18, after wrongful overtaking at a curve.