Deadly accident kills dozens in scene of "devastation"
ACCRA, Ghana -- A head-on collision between a passenger bus and a truck in central Ghana killed dozens of people in the deadliest road accident in recent memory, officials and witnesses said Thursday.
There were conflicting reports of the death toll. Bismark Owusu Fosu, medical director at Kintampo hospital, told the Reuters news agency that 71 people were killed. Christopher Tawiah, a regional police spokesman, said 61 people had died.
The accident occurred Wednesday night in the town of Kintampo, more than 250 miles north of the capital, Accra, Tawiah said. Survivors were being treated at the town's government hospital.
On Twitter, President John Dramani Mahama expressed condolences to affected families and said emergency crews were responding.
Bodies were strewn on the road in a scene of "devastation," said Fred Dwomoh, whose son survived.
"This accident has shattered families," Dwomoh said by phone from Kintampo.
Relatives of some other passengers awaited news.
"My wife was on that bus and l am dreading to go to the hospital," said Peter Frimpong, a trader in Accra. "I have asked my brother to check to see what has happened to her."
Officials are investigating. Ghana's National Road Safety Commission reported that more than 1,600 people were killed in road accidents last year.