Four killed, others injured as vehicle crashes into children at Aboabo

Four eight-year-old pupils have died and three others injured after a van knocked them down at Aboabo in the Asokore Mampong Municipality of the Ashanti Region.

The children, all pupils of the School of Islamic Studies at Akotosu, were getting ready to cross the road after school on Tuesday when a Hyundai van left the roadway and hit them.

The deceased have been named as Juraid Mohammed, Anisah Ibrahim, Fati Muniru and Raiyan Faisal. They were declared dead on arrival at the Manhyia District Hospital.

Two of the injured — 12-year-old Laila Muniru and five-year-old Bushira Musapha — were in critical condition and transferred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital for advanced care. The third injured child, six-year-old Saisa Bila, was stable and receiving treatment at the Manhyia District Hospital.

Witnesses said the van was travelling from the Aboabo Post Office area towards the Airport Roundabout when the driver apparently lost control while going down a slope. The vehicle mounted the pavement where the children were waiting and struck all seven of them.

Personnel from the Airport District Police Command arrived at the scene, controlled the gathering crowd and reopened the road to traffic.

The driver is in police custody and the damaged van has been impounded while investigations continue into the circumstances of the crash.

The bodies of the four children were released to their families after identification. Burial arrangements were being made on Wednesday in line with Islamic rites.

The incident has again drawn attention to the dangers children face when crossing busy roads near schools. The headmaster of the School of Islamic Studies, Bawa Abdul-Rahman, has appealed to the Asokore Mampong Municipal Assembly and other authorities to build a footbridge at the spot to protect pedestrians and prevent similar tragedies.

Police are investigating how the driver lost control of the vehicle and whether any additional action will be taken.