CONTROVERSIAL YUTONG BUS IN ACCIDENT (1C, NOV 4, 2010)

FIVE people were killed on the spot when the Yutong passenger bus which had been at the centre of a controversial robbery and rape story, collided head-on with an articulated Benz truck at the Kintampo Waterfalls Junction in the Brong Ahafo Region.
Many others were injured in the bloody accident which occurred on the Kintampo-Tamale trunk road at midnight on Wednesday.
The bodies, including that of the mate of the Yutong driver, have been deposited at the Kintampo Government Hospital morgue.
Those who sustained injuries in the crash include the driver of the articulated truck which had travelled from Burkina Faso.
The driver of the Yutong bus with 47 persons on board also received minor injuries and was treated at the Kintampo Government Hospital.
The Kintampo District Police Commander, Superintendent Desmond Owusu Boampong, explained that about three days earlier, a vehicle was involved in an accident at the same waterfalls junction but it could not be removed from the spot, thereby making it difficult for other vehicles to use the junction.
He said this left just a narrow way for passing vehicles to use.
Supt Boampong said the police suspected that the drivers of both vehicles were both in haste to use that ‘‘one way’’ and in the process crashed head-on as they were both speeding.
Mr Boampong said upon receiving a call from the Ashanti Regional Police Commander about the accident at about 11.57 p.m., he quickly made a call to three police patrol vehicles and the Kintampo Motor Traffic and Transport personnel, who reported quickly at the scene to assist in the rescue efforts.
In view of the bad nature of the Kintampo Hospital mortuary, he said, the police would explore the possibility of transporting the bodies to the Sunyani Regional Hospital.
Meanwhile the Brong Ahafo Regional Security Council led by its chairman, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye- Marfo, who is also the Regional Minister, visited the accident scene yesterday to assess the situation.
The delegation also visited some of the victims of the accident who were on admission at the Kintampo Government Hospital, reports Samuel Duodu.