Two people have died and eight others have been injured after a Toyota Hiace crashed into a broken-down truck at Dompoase near Komenda on the Cape Coast-Takoradi highway.
The collision happened on Friday evening, with three of the injured occupants reported to be in critical condition.
One of the two people who died was trapped inside the Toyota Hiace, which had registration number AS 6145-24. The other victim was pronounced dead after being rescued from the wreckage, while a second occupant died at the scene.
Personnel from the Komenda Fire Station were called to the incident at about 18:55 local time and arrived at 19:10.
The rescue team found one person dead when they reached the crash site. Fire officers then worked to free another victim who had become trapped inside the mangled commercial vehicle, but that person later died.
Divisional Officer Grade II (DO II) Abdul Wasiu Hudu, the Central Regional Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), confirmed the incident in a statement.
He said preliminary investigations showed that 10 people had been travelling in the Toyota Hiace when the crash occurred. Eight occupants survived the collision but suffered injuries, including three whose conditions were described as critical.
The injured people were taken to Elmina Polyclinic by personnel from the National Ambulance Service for medical treatment.
Initial information provided by an eyewitness indicated that an unidentified vehicle travelling from Takoradi towards Cape Coast attempted to overtake another vehicle.
The Toyota Hiace was travelling in the opposite direction, from Cape Coast towards Takoradi. According to the preliminary account, its driver moved out of the lane to avoid a head-on collision with the overtaking vehicle.
The manoeuvre reportedly caused the Toyota Hiace to leave its lane before striking a stationary truck that had broken down. The truck was registered as GN 2491-14.
The force of the impact caused severe damage to the commercial vehicle and left one of its occupants trapped inside. Fire service personnel carried out the rescue operation after they arrived at the scene.
The circumstances surrounding the crash remain subject to preliminary investigation. Information released by the GNFS said the eyewitness account formed part of the early details gathered after the incident.
The crash took place along the Cape Coast-Takoradi highway, a major route connecting the two coastal cities. Emergency services responded shortly after the distress call, with fire officers leading the extrication operation and National Ambulance Service personnel transporting the injured to hospital.
