DEAD! Mavis and Richard Kakani
At least three persons, including two student nurses, were reported dead with over a dozen injured in a motor accident in which a Mawuli School bus carrying 70 students, tumbled from the Aprede-Asesieso Mountain into a valley Friday evening.
Unconfirmed report said another student died at the hospital.
They were amongst several others from the Ho Nursing Training College returning from an excursion at the famous Aburi Botanical Gardens in the Akuapem South District of the Eastern Region.
Two of the deceased students were males and one, female. The driver of the bus was also reported dead.
The deceased persons were named as Mavis Ama Mawuli and Richard Kakani, both second-year students. The driver’s identity was still not known as at press time yesterday.
According to the Commander of the Regional Police Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), Chief Superintendent Samuel Tetteh, at about 4:30pm on Friday, a bus registered GR 4128 Z, belonging to Mawuli School in Ho, the Volta Regional capital, was descending the Aprede-Asesieso mountain en-route to Ho through Somanya; and on reaching a curve, the driver lost control.
The vehicle veered off the road and landed in the valley killing the driver and two students on the spot while many others suffered various degrees of injury.
Mawuli bus at the accident scene
The bodies of the deceased persons have since been deposited at Atuah Government Hospital, Somanya, awaiting autopsy, while some of the injured have been hospitalized at the same facility. Twelve others were admitted at the Tetteh-Quarshie Memorial Hospital, Mampong, and six were sent to the Koforidua Central Hospital.
One of the six victims, who were taken to the Koforidua Hospital, is said to be in critical condition but the remaining five were responding to treatment.
Meanwhile, the police have appealed to drivers to be cautious during the rainy season especially at mountainous areas since visibility during this season is very poor.
C/Supt Tetteh said the police observed that the driver did not know the terrain in which he was driving and therefore advised first-time drivers on a particular route to be mindful of their speed, observe traffic regulations and adhere to road signs.
Tears Flow
Residents, students and the staff of the Nursing Training College have since the fatal accident been mourning the deceased students as well as the driver of the Mawuli School bus.
Reports say it took personnel of the Fire Service many hours to cut portions of the mangled bus to rescue survivors.
A tour to the school showed students wandering about or in their hostels weeping and wondering why such a calamity should befall the institution which was preparing for the celebration of its golden jubilee anniversary this year.
Besides, some of the students were expected to sit for their end-of-semester examination on Monday.
Apart from the Aburi Botanical Gardens, the students also visited the Akropong School for the Deaf and the Centre for Scientific Research into Plant Medicine (CSRPM) at Mampong-Akwapem.
They had gone there to familiarise themselves with how to handle physically challenged persons when treating them as well as how herbal medicines work in patients.
Unconfirmed report said on Sunday, about five survivors were referred to the Volta Regional Hospital, popularly known as Trafalga, where some were treated and discharged.
From Rocklyn Antonio, Koforidua & Fred Duodu, Ho
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