Tears flowed uncontrollably along the Accra-Kumasi Highway, near Juaso, on Monday afternoon, when a devastating road crash claimed the lives of at least 17-people, including 15-youth members of the Saviour Church from Obogu.
The accident, which occurred around 3:00 p.m. involved a fuel tanker (GT 1674-17) and a Ford Transit mini-bus on the outskirts of Juaso in the Asante-Akim South Municipality of the Ashanti Region.
According to eyewitnesses, the fuel tanker, traveling toward Accra, attempted to overtake another vehicle, but in an effort to avoid a head-on collision, the driver of the mini-bus veered onto the shoulder of the road.
However, the tanker also lost control and veered off, slamming into the mini-bus and completely crushing it.
The impact was so severe that almost all passengers aboard the mini-bus died on the spot, leaving behind a scene of twisted metal and shattered lives.
A few critically injured survivors were rushed to the Juaso Government Hospital.
The deceased were members of the Saviour Church in Obogu, returning from a church programme in Osiem in the Eastern Region. News of the tragedy sent shockwaves through Obogu, with hundreds of distressed relatives and residents flocking to the hospital to identify their loved ones.
The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) and personnel from the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service swiftly responded to the scene and worked tirelessly to manage the heavy traffic build-up and assist in rescue operations.
The remains of the deceased have been deposited at the Steward Hospital morgue at Yawkwei for preservation and autopsy.
The tragic incident has once again thrown a spotlight on the deadly risks associated with overtaking on Ghana’s highways, a major contributor to road fatalities in recent years.
