One dead, two in critical condition after fuel tanker crash on Accra-Tema Motorway

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.

Officials from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) say the driver of the tipper truck lost his life in the crash, while three other persons were also affected by the incident.

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Speaking to journalists at the scene, GNFS Public Relations Officer, DO II Ebenezer Yenzu, explained that emergency teams were facing difficulties removing parts of the wreckage because of the degree of impact.

“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 said.

According to him, two victims remain in critical condition at the hospital, while another person who sustained injuries has since 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 persons were initially rushed to the General Hospital for emergency medical attention.

Meanwhile, the whereabouts of the fuel tanker driver remain unknown, with the Fire Service revealing that efforts are ongoing to apprehend him.

Yenzu indicated that preliminary observations suggest 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,” he explained.

Emergency crews were also seen flushing portions of the motorway with water to reduce the risk of accidents caused by fuel spillage which has made road surface slippery.

The incident caused major traffic disruption on the Accra–Tema corridor as motorists were diverted while authorities worked to clear debris and restore normal movement.

NA/VPO