Four persons, including a police officer perished in accident

Obuasi, March 13, GNA - Four persons died, three on the spot and one later at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi when a Petrol Tanker and two 207 buses were involved in an accident at the Obuasi Municipal Assembly Quarters on the Obuasi-Kumasi road on Monday evening.

Chief Inspector Maxwell Mensah in-charge of Akrokerri Police Station died later at KATH whilst Emmanuel Kusi, the tanker driver's mate died on the spot. The remaining two bodies, both females are yet to be identified.

Sixteen other passengers who received various degrees of injuries had been admitted at the AngloGold Ashanti and Obuasi Government hospitals.

The police sources said one Mary Owusu; an eleven-year old girl whose condition was critical was rushed to KATH. It said though all the three vehicles were badly damaged, the drivers survived.

The sources said the driver of 207 bus with registration number AS 1739 V was overtaking the tanker with registration number AS 6955 X when suddenly he saw an on-coming 207 with registration number GR 9551 T. The police said the driver, sensing danger quickly cut in to avoid a headlong collision but in the process the tanker driver hit the 207 and the bus fell on the right side of the road.

The tanker driver then lost control of the steering wheel and so when the driver of the on-coming 207 bus saw that the tanker was moving from side to side, he decided to park the vehicle but unfortunately the tanker ran into it forcing the 207 to fall on the left side of the road. The tanker also fell on it.

The Police named the drivers as Isaac Opoku for the tanker and Alex Boateng and Kwadwo Kalivo for 207 buses numbers AS 1739 V and GR 9551 T respectively.

The Tanker, loaded with diesel was reported to be heading to Kumasi from Takroadi whilst the 207 that did the overtaking was going to Akrokerri from Obuasi when the accident occurred. 13 March 07