Wife of Asokore Krontihene, three others die in accident

Smoke from bushfires along the Tamale-Bolgatanga highway early Wednesday morning led to an accident which claimed four lives.

The smoke had so engulfed the road that visibility was a problem, resulting in two vehicles colliding.

The bodies of the four, including that of the wife of a prominent person, have been deposited at the Tamale Teaching Hospital mortuary.

Two of the deceased were burnt beyond recognition while the remaining two were identified by the police as Mrs Cynthia Asante, the wife of the Krontihene of Asante Asokore and Nana Amoah, the driver of the Jeep in which the four were travelling.

The two other deceased persons burnt beyond recognition have only been identified as a male and a female.

According to the Commander of the Northern Regional Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), Mr Cashman Blewushie, the accident, a head-on collision, occurred about 8.30 a.m.  at a spot between Pigu and Kadia.

 He explained that smoke from the bushfire blurred the vision of the drivers of an articulated truck, with registration number, GR 238-12, and the Jeep, with the number GR 3027 Q, resulting in the collision.

 He said the Jeep subsequently somersaulted and caught fire. 

Mr Blewushie said the articulated truck was travelling from Tamale towards the Upper East Region, while the Jeep was on its way to Tamale.

The commander has, meanwhile, appealed to drivers on the road to be very cautious, especially as the area is witnessing severe harmattan weather. 

He equally advised chiefs and residents along the highway to desist from setting the bush on fire to prevent further accidents.