General News of Wednesday, 25 February 2009

Source: GNA

Offinso-Techiman Highway accident claimed one life

Offinso (Ash), Feb. 25, GNA - It has now been confirmed that one person died whilst 19 others sustained various degrees of injuries in the Offinso-Techiman Highway accident which occurred at Saboa near Offinso on Tuesday evening.

This is in contradiction to earlier reports that more than 20 people have died in the accident.

The dead has been identified as Salifu Abanga, 37 while nine of the injured, who are in critical conditions have been transferred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) and the rest on admission at the Saint Patrick Hospital at Maase.

Chief Superintendent Kwadwo Appiagyei, Offinso Police Divisional Commander told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that it is not true that 20 people died in the accident because he went to the hospital on that fateful evening and has been "there today, to confirm the death toll and also asked the doctors of the conditions of the injured". Narrating the story to the GNA, the Divisional Commander said the accident took place at an area where speed ramps were been constructed on the road.

He said because the ramps were been constructed in two phases, to avoid blocking the entire road, many drivers try to swerve away from the area with the ramp and as a result the two vehicles unfortunately collided headlong.

He said when the accident occurred and the bystanders were trying to pick the injured people out, a Benz Van, carrying goods from Techiman, which was travelling at top speed suddenly, ran into the people resulting in several of them sustaining injuries. He said Abanga, died while on admission at the Saint Patrick hospital. 25 Feb. 09