A tragic accident early Sunday morning on the Cape Coast-Takoradi highway in Ataabadze, Central Region, has claimed at least 14 lives and left many others injured. The collision involved a sprinter van, a tipper truck, and an articulated lorry.
Initial reports indicate that the articulated lorry attempted to overtake the tipper truck on a sharp curve when the fully loaded sprinter van, traveling from Accra to Takoradi, collided with both vehicles.
An eyewitness recounted to Adom News, “As I was traveling from Cape Coast to Takoradi, I saw two vehicles approaching from the opposite direction near a curve by a school. One vehicle seemed delayed, prompting the articulated lorry to overtake. At the same time, the sprinter van also tried to overtake. Both vehicles lost control, resulting in a collision.”
The eyewitness, who wished to remain anonymous, observed six people who appeared dead at the scene. Emergency services, including personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service and the Ghana Police Service, arrived promptly to clear the wreckage and assist the injured. Victims were transported to the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital.
According to Joy News reports from the hospital mortuary, ten bodies were confirmed. Dr. Papa Kojo Mbroh, Head of the Emergency Unit, later confirmed that four additional victims had died from their injuries, raising the death toll to 14, including a baby.
Asante noted that nearly ten survivors were being treated at the hospital. The sprinter van was reportedly carrying fishmongers and fishermen from Mumford, near Cape Coast, heading to Sekondi Fishing Harbour at the time of the crash.
The accident has deeply affected the community, with many mourning the loss and hoping for the recovery of the injured. Investigations are ongoing to uncover the full details of the incident.