Accra: A deadly crash involving a fuel tanker and a tipper truck on the Accra-Tema Motorway has left one person dead and two others fighting for their lives. The violent head-on collision caused severe damage to both vehicles and triggered heavy traffic congestion along the stretch as rescue and recovery operations continued.
According to Ghana Web, officials from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) reported that the driver of the tipper truck lost his life in the crash, while three other persons were also affected by the incident. GNFS Public Relations Officer, DO II Ebenezer Yenzu, speaking at the scene, explained that emergency teams were facing difficulties removing parts of the wreckage due to the degree of impact.
Yenzu mentioned that they anticipated completing the clearing process by 11:30, but the severe impact had caused complications in dismantling the vehicles. 'We are envisaging about two hours, estimating that around 11:30 we would have been done. But due to the impact, some of the lockers are not decoupling. So, we need to use other means and hit it where we can so we can move the vehicle as well,' he stated.
He also confirmed that two victims remain in critical condition at the hospital, while another injured individual has been treated and discharged. 'One person passed on from the incident. That is the driver of the tipper truck. So, he is the only person who died in the whole incident. Three other people were also part of the accident. They are in the hospital,' he added.
The injured were initially taken to the General Hospital for emergency medical attention. Meanwhile, the whereabouts of the fuel tanker driver remain unknown, with the Fire Service indicating ongoing efforts to apprehend him.
Preliminary observations suggest that one of the vehicles may have veered out of its lane before the collision, although investigations are still underway. 'For now, I would not want to conjecture, but looking at it from a technical eye, you could realise that. one vehicle veered into another lane, leading to the head-on collision,' Yenzu explained.
Emergency crews were seen flushing portions of the motorway with water to mitigate the risk of accidents caused by fuel spillage, which made the road surface slippery. The incident resulted in significant traffic disruption on the Accra-Tema corridor as motorists were diverted while authorities worked to clear debris and restore normal movement.