Omanghana
At least 13 people have been confirmed dead and 44 others rescued following a devastating three-vehicle collision at Odumase, near Konongo, along the busy Kumasi-Accra Highway.
The tragic accident, which occurred shortly before midnight on Wednesday, has once again highlighted growing concerns over road safety on one of Ghana’s busiest transport corridors.
Three Vehicles Involved
According to initial reports, the collision involved:
- A DAF cargo truck transporting boxes of tomatoes.
- A Tata public passenger bus carrying travelers.
- An empty DAF fuel tanker.
The impact of the crash left the vehicles severely damaged, trapping several occupants in the twisted wreckage and prompting an extensive overnight rescue operation.
Eyewitnesses Cite Dangerous Overtaking
Although the exact cause of the crash remains under investigation by the Ghana Police Service, eyewitnesses claim the collision occurred after one of the vehicles allegedly attempted a wrongful overtaking maneuver.
The reported maneuver is believed to have resulted in a head-on collision, triggering the chain-reaction crash involving all three vehicles.
Police say investigations are ongoing to establish the precise circumstances surrounding the accident.
Death Toll Rises to 13
Emergency responders initially recovered 12 bodies from the crash scene. However, the death toll later increased to 13.
The victims include both adults and children, underscoring the tragic scale of the accident.
Authorities are working to identify the deceased and notify their families.
44 Survivors Receiving Treatment
Rescue teams successfully extricated 44 survivors from the wreckage before transporting them to nearby hospitals for emergency medical care.
Hospital officials have indicated that the majority of the injured are currently in stable condition. However, at least three victims remain in critical condition and continue to receive intensive medical attention.
Medical teams are closely monitoring the critically injured while providing ongoing treatment to the other survivors.
Overnight Rescue Operation
Personnel from the emergency services, working alongside officers of the Ghana Police Service, spent several hours at the scene rescuing trapped passengers, recovering victims, and clearing the wreckage from the highway.
The collision caused significant traffic disruptions as the damaged vehicles blocked sections of the road. Traffic flow was eventually restored after the wreckage was removed.
Renewed Calls for Improved Road Safety
Following the tragedy, residents of communities along the Odumase-Konongo stretch of the Kumasi-Accra Highway have renewed calls for authorities to address what they describe as deteriorating road conditions and persistent safety concerns.
Many residents say the area has witnessed several serious accidents over the years and are urging government agencies to undertake improvements to the roadway, strengthen traffic enforcement, and implement additional safety measures to reduce the risk of future crashes.
As investigations continue, authorities are expected to determine the exact cause of the collision while reminding motorists to exercise caution, obey traffic regulations, and avoid dangerous overtaking, particularly on high-speed highways.
Source: Omanghana
