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Three people, including a mother and her son, have lost their lives in a devastating head-on collision on the Accra–Kumasi Highway. Several others sustained serious injuries in the crash, which occurred near the Rider Iron and Steel Company at Odumasi Ohene Nkwanta.
The tragic incident, which happened around noon on Sunday, has reignited calls for stricter enforcement of traffic laws to curb reckless driving on Ghana’s major highways.
Reckless overtaking blamed
According to preliminary police reports, the collision was caused by a wrongful overtaking manoeuvre by the driver of a BMW saloon car (registration GE 4700-20) travelling from Kumasi towards Accra. The BMW reportedly veered into the lane of an oncoming Toyota Yaris (registration AS 3861-24), resulting in a violent impact.
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Two occupants of the Toyota Yaris — the driver and a passenger — died instantly, while a female passenger succumbed to her injuries shortly after being rushed to Hope Care Hospital in Odumasi. Police sources later confirmed that the deceased included a mother and her young son who were travelling together in the Yaris.
Emergency response and investigation
Police and emergency services swiftly arrived at the scene, which was cordoned off for investigations. Several occupants of the BMW sustained varying degrees of injury and were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
“The bodies of the deceased have been deposited at the Konongo Government Hospital morgue,” police officials said in a statement on Sunday evening.
Authorities say preliminary findings point to reckless overtaking and excessive speeding — factors that account for roughly 35% of all fatal crashes on Ghana’s highways each year.
Police have begun a full investigation into the crash and are considering manslaughter charges against the driver of the BMW.
The incident once again highlights the deadly risks associated with overtaking on the 245-kilometre Accra–Kumasi Highway, one of the country’s most accident-prone routes.
Story By: Afia Ohenewaa Akyerem