Three Basic Students, Taxi Driver Die in Tragic Crash on Winneba-Apam Highway

• Three children have been reported dead following a crash at Natwibuw on the Winneba-Apam highway
• The deceased were returning home from school when another car collided with the taxi they were in
• The fire service said an investigation is currently underway to determine the exact cause of the crash

Three students and a taxi driver have been reported dead following a crash at Natwibuw on the Winneba-Apam highway in the Central Region.

Citi News reported that the students from the Uncle Rich and St. Paul basic schools, respectively, were returning home from school on the evening of June 23 when another vehicle collided with the taxi they were in.

Eyewitness accounts suggested that the driver of an SUV collided head-on with the taxi cab after a reckless overtaking manoeuvre.

The crash led to the death of the driver on the spot, and it took emergency responders strenuous efforts to extricate his body.

One of the students also died on the spot, while two others died while on admission at the Trauma and Specialist in Winneba, raising the death toll to four.

Two other students who survived the crash are receiving treatment in hospital.

Fire service personnel responded to the crash and rescued some of the casualties. It also released a statement on the incident.

"Other victims, mainly students from Uncle Rich and St. Paul schools, had already been conveyed to the Trauma and Specialist Hospital prior to the arrival of the crew. A follow-up by the Rescue team confirmed seven casualties, with four in critical condition receiving treatment."

It also said an investigation was currently underway to determine the exact cause of the crash.

The service further cautioned to avoid wrongful overtaking and adhere to road safety regulations to prevent fatal crashes.

Eight dead after VIP bus crash

In related news, on June 12, a collision between a VIP bus and a sedan on the Abuakwa-Sunyani highway left eight persons dead.

The crash was caused when the sedan driver reportedly attempted to overtake another vehicle at high speed, leading to a crash into the oncoming VIP bus.

The VIP bus was travelling from Sunyani to Kumasi and sustained major damage to its front and top, while the Mercedes-Benz sedan was destroyed.

Emergency responders reportedly arrived at the scene promptly and were said to have rescued several people from the wreckage.

Unfortunately, seven passengers on the VIP bus were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Mercedes-Benz also lost his life.

Ho tops Volta road crash stats

According to the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), Ho led the Volta Region in road crashes in 2024 with 263 incidents and 37 deaths.

The high numbers have alarmed residents, particularly due to the growing involvement of tricycles and motorcycles in the incidents.

The region reportedly recorded 525 crashes in 2024, a rise of nearly 23% from the 427 collisions recorded in 2023.

Concerns over road crashes

This tragic incident highlights the ongoing concerns about road safety in Ghana, where speeding, poor vehicle maintenance, and hazardous road conditions continue to contribute to deadly accidents.

According to the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), Ghana recorded 2,276 road traffic deaths in 2023, marking a decline from the 2,373 fatalities reported in 2022. Road crash incidents also dropped slightly, from 14,135 in 2022 to 13,980 in 2023.

However, data from January to September 2024 shows a concerning rise in fatalities, with 1,817 deaths compared to 1,677 during the same period in 2023.

The Abuakwa-Sunyani highway has witnessed several fatal crashes in the past, and this latest incident serves as a reminder of the need for greater caution and compliance with road safety measures.

One person dies in crash near UCC

YEN.com.gh also previously reported that a road crash occurred on June 19, 2025, in front of the second gate of the University of Cape Coast.

The crash left one person dead after a tipper truck loaded with sand crashed into three vehicles at an intersection near the university entrance.

CCTV footage captured the incident, which showed the tipper truck running over a pedestrian who was waiting to cross the road at the time.

Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.

Source: YEN.com.gh