Accidents claim two lives

Bawku (U/E), Feb. 23, GNA - Two persons died instantly in two separate road accidents, which occurred within 12 hours intervals in the Bawku municipality.

The first incident involved a Kumasi-bound "Awudu Issaka" bus from Bawku, which knocked and killed a man identified only as Akula and believed to be in his early thirties at Bazua on Tuesday at about 2100 hours.


According to the driver of the bus with registration number AS 2969C, Imoro Saidi, the man suddenly ran into his lane from a vehicle that was parked ahead of him.


He said the man did not check for any oncoming vehicle before he attempted to cross the road and he (driver) could not see him on time to apply his brake.


In the second incident, a driver's mate of a 33-Seater Benz bus with registration number GR 8698 K also died on the spot at Bugri Corner when he attempted to jump form the vehicle after the driver had lost control of the steering.


According to Ibrahim Sali, driver of the bus, they were on their way from Bawku with traders to Bugri for the market when the accident occurred at about 0800 hours on Wednesday.


He said when they got to the Bugri Junction off the Bawku-Garu highway, he slowed down in order to negotiate a curve towards Bugri but lost control of the steering wheel.

Sali said the mate, known as Mohamed attempted to jump through the window of the door but had his neck trapped by a nylon rope attached to the door.


He said the mate struggled to free himself from the rope but no sooner had he fell than the vehicle also landed on him, killing him instantly.


The traders escaped unhurt, whilst the driver sustained minor injuries and was treated and discharged at the Bawku Presby Hospital. Both bodies which were released to their respective relations have since been buried.


The Bawku Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Peter King Gyinae, confirmed both incidents when contacted by the Ghana News Agency (GNA).


He expressed concerns about pedestrians behaviours along the highways during market days which had resulted in fatalities on the roads.


He said personnel would be placed at vantage points during these days and to enforce vehicles to comply with speed limits when approaching towns in order to reduce such occurrences.