4 in critical condition as Aflao-Kumasi bus plunges into ditch

Eight people have been injured with four of them in critical condition, in an accident involving a passenger bus and a truck at Boadi Junction in Kumasi, Thursday.

Driver of the Kumasi-bound bus traveling from Aflao reportedly lost control of the wheels after hitting the rear of the truck at a newly-constructed intersection.

The bus fell on its side into the ditch, leaving passengers, mostly traders.

At exactly 7:05 Thursday morning, the bus with registration GR 5224-19 on which they were travelling skidded off the road.

Yaw Annor, a trader at Kumasi Central Market told Joy News he had called for helping hands to assist him off-load his wares at nearby Dunkirk few minutes before the accident.

A teacher at Ideal College also said he was awakened by the sound of the falling bus after the it screeched as the driver struggled to control the bus.

“I hurriedly came out of my room when I heard a loud noise and saw people shouting, screaming Jesus, Jesus. I didn’t know what was happening then I saw the bus then I saw passengers bleeding including the driver,” the eyewitness said.

He quickly reached his phone and called both the National Fire and Ambulance Service when he saw the bus.

A timely intervention of emergency service providers, including ambulance and fire service, saved the situation.

Police Motor Transport and Traffic Department were on hand to ensure free-flow of traffic.

There are calls for city authorities to improve security installations on the stretch.

“The MCE, DCE and the MPs should do what they can and put up a barricade along the stretch. Looking at this accident, if there were to be barricades here, it would have saved the bus from falling down”.

Police at KNUST say investigation into the accident have just began.