Six passengers onboard a Hyundai Grace commercial vehicle are feared dead in an accident that occurred at Gomoa Osamkrom on the Agona Swedru-Winneba main road. The accident involved a Hyundai Grace with registration number GT 4110-13 which was loaded with many passengers heading towards Winneba.
The other accident vehicle is a DAF gas tanker truck with registration number GT 7728-16 which was heading towards a fuel station at Agona Swedru to offload gas. Reports say another vehicle did an overtaking but had to slow down abruptly in front of the tanker truck. In an attempt to avoid running into the vehicle which had slowed down ahead of it, the tanker driver applied his brakes whilst descending a slippery slope.
In the process, the tanker skidded off the road and hit the Hyundai which veered off the road into a nearby bush. Officials of the Swedru Municipal Fire Service and Police from the Swedru office of the Motor Traffic and Transport Department, rushed to the scene to maintain law and order. Six passengers onboard both vehicles including the drivers and their mates who were severely injured were rescued and taken to the Swedru Government Hospital for emergency medical attention.
Some passengers who are were trapped in the Hyundai vehicle are yet to be identified. Some eyewitnesses said they saw about six people trapped in the Hyundai vehicle which was under the tanker. Confirming the incident to journalists, station Officer at the Swedru Divisional MTTD, Chief Inspector Sampson Boamah said the rescue team would be able to retrieve the dead bodies, when all the gas is discharged from the tanker.
He noted that the situation at the scene of the accident was being attended to with a lot of caution since any little mistake could lead to an explosion which may have a devastating effect on the adjoining communities.
He noted that members of the community who are very close to the accident have been sensitized to avoid flammable items close to the scene that could lead to the explosion of the tanker. Meanwhile, the Swedru-Winneba main road has been blocked to traffic, and commuters and drivers have been directed to use alternative routes to reach their destinations.
