A tragic car accident occurred in Ho, the capital of Volta Region. It’s devastating that eight individuals lost their lives and nine others are in critical condition with various injuries.
The catastrophic incident took place between 4:00 pm and 5:00 pm on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, at the foot of the Ho Galenkui Mountain near the National Lottery Authority’s Volta Regional office at Ola SHS top, Ho.
The collision occurred between a 207 Benz, registered as GR-1645-W, carrying traders and foodstuff from Abotoase, and a Zoomlion refuse truck, registered as GR-6205-16.
The 207 Benz was descending the Galenkui mountain, and the Zoomlion truck was ascending from the opposite direction. They collided at a sharp bend at the bottom of the mountain.
Eyewitnesses shared that the Benz vehicle, which was carrying a load of foodstuff, had brake failure and a tire burst which caused the driver to lose control of the steering wheel.
The head-on collision forced both vehicles off their original lanes, pushing the Zoomlion truck into the left-side gutter and the Benz vehicle to the right side.
After the crash, the Benz car flipped onto its left side, trapping passengers inside.
Eyewitness Joy told Class 91.3 FM that he was on a motorbike and had overtaken the Benz on the mountain.
As soon as he heard the loud crash, he hurried back to the scene. The Benz vehicle, loaded with items like cassava dough, corn dough, maize, charcoal, boards, and livestock, had passengers trapped inside. The rescue team worked to raise the overturned vehicle and free the victims.
Ho Municipal Commander of the Ghana National Fire Service, Divisional Officer Grade 3, Seth Tay, described the accident as very severe. Seventeen individuals were transported to the hospital, where eight were confirmed dead, and nine with various injuries are in critical condition.
Rescue operations faced challenges, with victims trapped in the mangled Benz car and the Zoomlion truck’s driver having his legs stuck under the steering wheel for over an hour.
The Ghana National Fire Service, alongside concerned residents, had to cut parts of the truck to free the driver.
The accident caused a huge traffic mess on the road for more than four hours. The Volta Regional Police Motor Traffic and Transport Department had to tow away the cars to clear the road.
Some eyewitnesses expressed concerns about the delayed arrival of emergency services at the scene.
This incident is just the latest in a string of accidents on Galenkui Mountain. The residents are demanding that the local authorities step in to ensure safety and avoid any more tragic incidents. In the past, there have been accidents like a Tipper truck smashing into parked cars and a Low Bed long vehicle colliding with four Mahama Camboo (Pragya) and a private car, causing injuries to eight people.
