One dead, several injured as church bus crashes after alleged brake failure

A tragic road accident occurred on the Asesewa-Abuosso stretch in the Eastern Region. One person died, and several others are in critical condition.

The victims were members of the Susana Wesley Mission Auxiliary (SUWMA) from Prampram. They were returning from a visit to Boti Falls when their bus collided with an Opel Astra taxi. The bus was carrying 26 passengers near the Abuatsam community.

Eyewitnesses reported that the bus suffered brake failure. It veered off the road and fell into a valley. One person died at the scene, while others sustained serious injuries.

Emergency response efforts were hampered by poor roads and limited resources. Police could not reach the site with their patrol vehicle. The district’s only ambulance was out of service due to engine problems. An ambulance had to come from Koforidua to help transport the injured.

A survivor shared concerns about the driver’s speed and overheated brakes. “We missed our way, but he insisted he knew the route,” she said. “People complained about the brakes, but he didn’t listen.”

Billy Paul, local GPRTU station master, visited the site and called it “heartbreaking.” He expressed doubt over a severely injured woman found wearing a wedding ring.

Medical staff at Asesewa Government Hospital are working urgently to stabilize those injured in the crash.