Two final-year basic school students have reportedly died, and another is in critical condition after a tipper truck loaded with clay ran into them at Ekumfi Obedan in the Central Region.
The victims, 13-year-old Constant and 14-year-old Mary, were walking along the timber market road on Tuesday afternoon after attending voluntary remedial classes organized for BECE candidates following the ongoing teachers’ strike. A third student, 14-year-old Sarah Mbrem, sustained severe injuries and is receiving intensive care at the Mankessim Roman Catholic Hospital.
Constant reportedly died at the scene, while Mary died shortly after arrival at the hospital.
The driver of the tipper truck was apprehended by bystanders and handed over to the Mankessim Police. He is currently in custody at the Mankessim Police Station, assisting with investigations into the cause of the crash, including suspected speeding and possible mechanical failure.
The incident has thrown the Mankessim and Ekumfi Obedan communities into mourning. Chairman of the Timber Market Association, Mr. Francis Aidoo, described the incident as a wake-up call and called on the local assembly to restrict heavy-duty, clay-loaded tipper trucks from using the residential and school stretch of the market road, which he said was not built to handle such volumes and has become a death trap.
An eyewitness, Mr. Alhasan Kalala, who was near the timber market at the time, said the truck was moving at high speed on the narrow road, leaving the students with little chance to escape. He said the absence of pedestrian walkways on that stretch has long been a safety concern for parents and school authorities.
The police say investigation is underway, while community stakeholders are meeting to discuss urgent safety measures, including speed ramps and signage, to prevent a recurrence.
Source: Douglas Oyiboh Amponsah
