POTRIKROM, Ashanti Region — A somber atmosphere has engulfed the Ahafo Ano South-East District following a catastrophic head-on collision that claimed at least 16 lives on Tuesday.
The accident, involving a Ford Transit passenger bus and an ambulance, occurred at Potrikrom, leaving both vehicles mangled beyond recognition and local residents in a state of shock.
Details of the Crash
According to eyewitness reports, the Ford Transit (registration GT 6576–19) was traveling from Kumasi toward Bechem when it collided with an ambulance (registration GV 527–23). The ambulance was reportedly traveling from St. Mary’s Catholic Hospital in Drobo, in the opposite direction.
Preliminary assessments suggest that excessive speeding played a primary role in the severity of the impact. The force of the crash was so intense that most passengers aboard the Ford Transit are believed to have died instantly.
A Gruesome Scene
First responders and bystanders described a harrowing scene at the crash site. The impact resulted in the dismemberment of several victims, forcing recovery teams to use polythene bags and sacks to collect remains.
“It was horrifying. The vehicles were crushed into scrap metal, and there was very little anyone could do for those inside,” one witness recounted.
Emergency Response
Officers from the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) at Mankranso arrived shortly after the incident. The bodies of the deceased were transported via pickup vehicles to the morgues at Mankranso and Adugyama.
Authorities have officially launched a full investigation to determine the exact circumstances leading to the tragedy.
