At least 12 people have been confirmed dead and 44 others injured following a tragic three-vehicle road accident near the Konongo Anglican Basic School in the Asante Akim Central Municipality of the Ashanti Region.
The fatal collision, which occurred in the early hours of the morning, involved a passenger bus, a cargo truck, and an empty fuel tanker. Emergency services, led by the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), arrived swiftly to conduct rescue operations.
How the Fatal Konongo Crash Occurred
According to preliminary findings from the Ghana National Fire Service, the crash was triggered by a dangerous overtaking maneuver.
A DAF cargo truck loaded with tomatoes was traveling from Kumasi toward Accra. Upon reaching a sloped section of the road near the Konongo Anglican Basic School, the driver attempted to overtake another vehicle.
The driver lost control of the cargo truck, leading to a violent, head-on collision with a Tata passenger bus that was heading in the opposite direction (from Accra toward Bole). An empty fuel tanker traveling closely behind subsequently crashed into the wreckage, though officials confirm it did not significantly increase the number of casualties.
Casualties and Fatalities Breakdown
The impact of the head-on collision resulted in a devastating toll on passengers:
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Fatalities: 12 individuals lost their lives at the scene, comprising 9 males and 3 females.
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Injuries: 44 passengers sustained various degrees of injury, with 30 of them reported to be in critical condition.
Emergency Response and Victim Evacuation
The GNFS responded with high urgency to the distress call. Dispatch records show the call was received at 0007 Hrs, and first responders arrived at the crash site by 0012 Hrs—achieving an impressive five-minute response time.
Firefighters, alongside other emergency services, successfully extricated trapped victims from the mangled vehicles and secured the scene to prevent any potential secondary fires.
The injured victims were rushed to nearby medical facilities for urgent treatment:
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Asante Akyem Government Hospital: Receiving 32 casualties
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Steward Hospital: Receiving 12 casualties
Normal traffic flow has since been restored on the busy highway after emergency crews cleared the debris and towed the damaged vehicles from the scene. Authorities are urging motorists to exercise extreme caution, especially when navigating slopes and overtaking on major highways.
