The Commission also stated that a total of 2,095 road crashes were recorded in January and February alone, representing a significant rise from the same period in 2017.

Speaking to Citi News on the sidelines of the official launch of the 2018 Easter Road Safety Campaign, the Chief Executive of the NRSC, Ing. May Obri-Yeboah, said over-speeding and the absence of street lights on most highways are major contributory factors for these accidents.

“If you look at most of the cases that happened, you can see that normally the road is clear and i’ts a straight route so that gives us an idea of speeding. Speeding has been a major contributory factor to it. In a few cases we’ve had vehicles run into stationary vehicles and wrongful overtaking A few also have been in the night, there have been cases like that where bad roads have contributed but most of it has been over-speeding,” she said.

“We have an issue with street lights, we are trying to take some inventory to see what is happening, but it shows clearly most of our roads are dark. Where there are even lampposts, the lights are not on,” she added.

Ebony, others perish 

One of this year’s most notable accidents involved young dancehall starlet Ebony Reigns in February.

Ebony, whose real name is Priscilla Opoku-Kwarteng, was returning from Sunyani after visiting her mother who had returned from the UK, when the Jeep she was travelling in crashed into railings on the road edge of the road.

She was in the vehicle with three other people when the accident occurred, killing everyone but the driver.

Police in their preliminary investigations revealed that, the car, which was travelling at night, collided with an oncoming VIP bus, when their driver tried to avoid a heap of sand in their lane.

In January, nine persons died, with 20 others injured in an accident that occurred at Teacher Mante, near Nsawam in the Eastern Region.

The accident occurred when A VIP bus heading towards Accra and a cargo truck heading towards Kumasi, collided head-on.

That same month, three persons died on the spot when a Yutong bus on which they were travelling from Kumasi to Accra, crashed into a Man diesel trailer truck at Asuboi near Suhum on the Accra Kumasi Highway.

In February, 14 persons, including five children, also lost their lives in an accident at Anyinam in the Atewa District of the Eastern Region.

The 14, believed to be members of the same family, were occupants of a Sprinter bus with registration number GN 3699-14 travelling from Nkawkaw to Accra, when their vehicle collided with a Man diesel cargo truck with registration number WR- 5783- C after a wrongful overtaking.

March Mayhem

The trend appears to have continued into March, with a number of reported crashes which have claimed a number of lives.

At least six people died while several others were injured when a sprinter bus collided head-on with a Hyundai bus and a taxi, which were overtaking other vehicles on the Accra-Cape Coast highway.

Three students of the Ejura Islamic Senior School in the Ejura/ Sekyedumase Municipality of the Ashanti Region also died after a vehicle run over them earlier in March.

The three were part of a group of four female students returning from school to their homes when a Nissan Navara pickup from Atebubu heading to Sunyani, lost control and run over them around the Ejura Agriculture School.

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By: Edwin Kwakofi and Marie-Franz Fordjoe/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The injured have been rushed to the Winneba Trauma and Specialist Hospital for treatment.

The accident, which occurred around 6 pm yesterday [Saturday], involved a sprinter bus, a Hyundai bus and a taxi.

Eyewitnesses say the sprinter bus with registration number GS 8702-12 which was coming from the Accra side of the Accra-Cape Coast highway collided head-on with the Hyundai bus with the registration number GS 8994-17 and the taxi that were overtaking other cars from the Cape Coast end of the stretch.

The eyewitnesses also indicated that more lives could have been saved had the Winneba Fire Service personnel arrived on time to rescue the injured.

The Fire personnel had reportedly been delayed by the traffic jam that had built up on the stretch as a result of the accident.

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By: Joseph Ackon-Mensah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post C/R: At least 6 dead in accident at Gomoa Dominase appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to an eyewitness, Daniel, the driver of a commercial sprinter bus lost control of the steering wheel and rammed into the Jersey barrier.

“We were driving under the bridge in speed lane and the driver lost control because of the curve and hit the middle barrier. He was driving at about 100 kilometres per hour. Luckily for us, none of the cars in front of us drove into him. The driver’s door had fallen off, he himself was stuck in there. It is a blue trotro, looks like a sprinter bus and it was full of passengers. Just driving past, I could count about 5 people. There was somebody under the car, somebody lying on the passenger door that had fallen off and the driver was stuck in there. Some drivers parked to help them. I drove to Neoplan to get the police.”

Another eyewitness said at least two people had died on the spot.

The situation has resulted in a traffic jam on that stretch of the road.

Meanwhile, the police are at the scene to maintain order.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Two reported dead in Taifa junction car crash appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Many Ghanaians have been saddened by the demise of the starlet, but there have been conflicting accounts as to how the fatal crash happened.

[contextly_sidebar id=”9z4EUOTvKx09Z7KeDIo0sKLhVvaz0Qlb”]According to a report from the Ghana Police Service, Ebony, and two others who were with her in a Jeep, lost their lives on Thursday night, after their car collided with an oncoming VIP bus, when their driver tried to avoid a heap of sand in their lane.

The police said the sand was meant for the maintenance of the road.

Whereas the occupants of the bus escaped unhurt, the police in its report said only the driver of the Jeep whose names was given as Chartey Oko Pinehad, aged 29, survived the accident, and is receiving treatment at the Bechem hospital.

The police also in its report said the remains of Ebony and the two others have been deposited at the Bechem government hospital mortuary for preservation and autopsy.

The police said the driver of the VIP Bus driver has also been given an “enquiry bail.”

Ebony, who’s billed to travel to Belgium this Saturday for a show, and later embark on an European tour, was in Sunyani to visit her mother who returned from the United Kingdom.

We’re ready to assist in investigations – VIP bus

While expressing condolence to the bereaved families, Management of VIP Transport Service said they are fully cooperating with police investigations.

“Management wishes to express its deepest condolences to the bereaved families of the individuals who lost their lives in the accident. The pain and anguish that their families must be going through clearly is unimaginable. We are cooperating fully with the police in their investigations and expect that the full facts of the circumstances of the accident will be made public in early course.”

“We wish to assure the general public that we remain committed to high and rigorous training standards for our drivers, to the safety of our buses, and to the safety and comfort of all our passengers,” a statement from VIP Transport service added.

Below is the full police report:

On 08/02/2018, at about 23:45 hours, suspect driver Chartey Oko Pinehad, aged 29, was driving Jeep No. AS497-16 from Sunyani to Accra with three occupants on board, whilst suspect driver Mohammed Abubakar aged 48 years, was also driving KIA Grad Bird [VIP] bus with registration No. GT 3232-17 from Accra to Sunyani with a set of passengers on board.

On reaching a section of the road between Nyamebekyere and Nsuta, there was a heap of sand in the lane of the Jeep which was being used for the road maintenance, and the driver in trying to avoid running into the sand, swerved onto the opposite lane and grazed the nearside portion of the bus and plunged into the railings at the edge of the road, killing the three other occupants identified as Francisca Nkansah Kuri aged 27 years, Priscilla Opoku Kwarteng [Ebony], and Lance Corporal Vondee Francis Atsu, aged 29 years.

The driver sustained injuries and was rushed to Bechem Government hospital for treatment. The occupants on board the bus escaped unhurt.

Bodies conveyed and deposited at Bechem government hospital mortuary for preservation and autopsy. Accident vehicle impounded at the station. Suspect driver on enquiry bail.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Police reveal how heap of sand ’caused’ Ebony’s fatal crash appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The 14, believed to be members of the same family, were occupants of a Sprinter bus with registration number GN 3699-14 travelling from Nkawkaw to Accra when their vehicle collided with a Man diesel cargo truck with registration number WR- 5783- C after a wrongful overtaking.

According to the Eastern Regional Police Public Relations Officer ASP Ebenezer Tetteh, who confirmed the incident to Citi News the accident could have been avoided if the driver exercised a little restraint.

“At about 23:30 hours at a spot opposite Wapco filling station near Anyinam a Benz sprinter bus with registration number GN- 3699- 14 loaded with about 25pieces of 2/4 lumber with passengers on-board from the Nkawkaw side of the road towards Accra on reaching the WAPCO filling station near Anyinam overtook vehicles ahead of him and in the process collided with a Man diesel cargo truck with registration number WR-5783-C which was also heading the opposite direction,” he narrated.

“The driver of the cargo truck lost control of the wheels and also in the process collided with another sprinter Benz bus with registration number GT-546-U loaded with foodstuffs and passengers, 14 persons on board the sprinter including 5 children below 5 years all died on the spot. Several other passengers on board the cargo truck were rushed to the Enyiresi and Kibi government hospitals for treatment.”

ASP Ebenezer Tetteh added, “the mortal remains of the passengers were removed from the mangled vehicles and have since been deposited at the Nkawkaw Holy Family Hospital for autopsy and identification. I will plead with road users to be calm on our roads to prevent these fatalities.”

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By: Neil Amatey Kanarku/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post 14 dead in car crash at Anyinam appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The two were among four persons who were in a Toyota Hiace vehicle with registration number GN 5664-17 driving from Accra to Kumasi, when the car collided with a VVIP bus from Kumasi to Accra with registration number GT 6417-10.

Last week, 9 others lost their lives in a similar accident at Teacher Mante on the same Accra Kumasi stretch.

3 dead in Yutong Bus crash on Accra-Kumasi Highway

Three persons also died on the spot when a Yutong bus on which they were travelling from Kumasi to Accra, crashed into a Man diesel trailer truck at Asuboi near Suhum on the Accra Kumasi Highway on January 16, 2018.

Over the weekend, four persons also died in the Ahanta West District of the Western Region, when an ambulance run into an articulated truck.

The Eastern Regional Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Ebenezer Tetteh, told Citi News that the other injured passengers have been sent to the Suhum Government Hospital for treatment.

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By: Neil Nii Amatey Kanarku/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post  2 feared dead in gory accident near Nsawam appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Five people managed to escape and were treated by rescue workers on the spot, reports said.

The accident happened at 10:30 local time on Thursday (04:30 GMT) in the Irgiz district of Aktobe region.

Local media say that the bus was believed to have been carrying Uzbek citizens to or from Russia along the Samara-Shymkent route.

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Source: BBC

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Reports say the incident occurred when a Mercedes Benz Sprinter bus traveling from Accra towards Mafi Kumasi, somersaulted at Mafi Amelukope junction.

Gideon Fiator, the driver of the bus with registration number AS 6874-10, with 22 passengers on board, lost control and run into a culvert.

According to the police, several other persons who sustained various degrees of injury were rushed to the Adidome Government Hospital and the Volta Regional Hospital in Ho, and are currently on admission.

The Volta Regional Police Commander, DCOP Nana Asamoah Hene, who confirmed the incident to Citi News, said “The driver, Gideon Fiator, aged 34, was in charge of a Mercedes benz sprinter bus with registration number AS 6874-10, loaded from Accra and was heading towards Mafi Kumasi in the Volta Region, and at Mafi Amelukope junction, the driver lost control over the steering wheel and run into a culvert. The vehicle somersaulted and as of now, three people have been confirmed dead. The rest have been sent to the Adidome Hospital and Ho government hospital. This happened at about 2:15 pm on Saturday”

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By: Philip Nii Lartey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post 3 die in Sogakope-Adidome road accident appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The two, a police officer with the Nkawkaw District, and a driver of GCB, were pronounced dead on arrival at the Atibie Government Hospital.

Confirming the accident to Citi News, the Eastern Regional Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Ebenezer Tetteh, stated that the Police is yet to ascertain what actually caused the accident.

“On 20th December 2017 at about 9:45am, a Ghana Commercial Bank Nissan pick-up vehicle with registration number GN 8556-15 driven by Paul Koranteng 43 years, together with three other persons on board including two Police personnel from Nkawkaw, namely Cpl. Nathaniel Afriyie Marfo and Cpl. Frederick Addai, were on specific duty from Nkawkaw to Donkorkrom, and on reaching a section of Kwahu Tafo – Adawso motor road, the vehicle veered from its lane into the opposite lane, and in the process collided with a Mercedes Benz bus with registration number GT- 724 F driven by a driver yet to be identified”.

“Occupants of both vehicles however sustained injuries and were rushed to Kwahu Government Hospital, Atibie, for medical treatment.

But on reaching the hospital, one Police officer, Cpl. Nathaniel Afriyie Marfo, together with the GCB Driver, Paul Koranteng, were pronounced dead on arrival by the Medical Doctor on duty.”

The bodies have been deposited at the Atibie Hospital morgue awaiting autopsy, while the accident vehicles are yet to be towed to the station for further investigation.

ASP Ebenezer Tetteh added that, the money on board the bullion vehicle was successfully retrieved.

“Another bullion vehicle escorted by Police personnel from Nkwakwa was immediately dispatched to the scene to retrieve the money from the Bullion vehicle in the accident. In all, a total sum of GHC450,000.00, the property of GCB, was rescued from the accident scene under heavy Police presence”.

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By: Neil Nii Amartey Kanaku/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Police, GCB Driver die in Bullion van crash at Kwahu appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to the Ayensuano District Police Commander, DSP Charles Ahiamale, the truck was carrying a container loaded with logs from Kumasi to Accra.

Speaking to Citi News, DSP Charles Ahiamale said container fell off the truck on the outskirts of Teacher-Mante causing havoc as the first vehicle, a Toyota Land Cruiser run into it.

This first crash did not result in any significant casualties, according to indications from police.

“Police got to the scene [after the first crash] and made frantic efforts to get assistance from the Road Safety Commission and the Ghana Fire Service to assist them with a tow truck to remove the container from the road.”

But at 2 am on Sunday morning, the container was still on the road and the second vehicle, a Toyota minibus, also run into it “after ignoring police signals to stop,” DSP Ahiamale said

“The driver of the minibus and the passengers were injured. We conveyed them to the Nsawam Government Hospital but they were pronounced dead this morning – five males and one female.”

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By: Philip Nii Lartey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Six die in car crash on Suhum-Nsawam road appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.