Driver's Mate Narrates Moment Before Bono Manso Fatal Accident

A companion of the driver of a Kia Grandbird luxury bus that was destroyed when it collided head-on with a trailer carrying packages suspected to contain alcoholic beverages near Bono Manso on the Techiman- Kintampo highway in the Bono East region has described the events that transpired just prior to the tragic collision.

The accident resulted in five fatalities, all of whom were burned, and numerous others were taken to Holy Family Hospital in Techiman. According to the police, there were three fatalities on the bus and two fatalities on the trailer.

The mate, identified only as Kofi, told Wiafe Akenten from his hospital bed that he and his captain were carrying passengers from Tamale to Accra.

He stated that there were approximately 41 passengers on board the bus at the time of departure, with the addition of one passenger at Kintampo bringing the total to 42.

According to him, the bus driver and another driver in command of an STC bus were passing each other intermittently as they traveled.

He stated that at one point, the speeding bus lost its brakes, and as they got too close to the STC bus, his master began honking for the STC driver to make way for them to avoid colliding with the bus, but the STC driver did not recognize the signal and continued its journey.

Driver's companion describes the eerie moments preceding the tragic Bono Manso crash.
In order to avoid colliding with the STC bus, the companion reported that his master switched lanes; however, just then, a trailer emerged from a curve in the road ahead. According to him, the driver then attempted to maneuver between the two buses, but failed as the bus collided with the trailer.

According to Kofi, the driver of the trailer and another person on the trailer did not survive, while his master's legs were pinned beneath his steering wheel and some of the passengers who attempted to extricate him suffered burns as the engulfing flames raced through the bus.

Kofi stated that they were able to liberate the majority of passengers by shattering the windows.