A devastating collision involving a fuel tanker and a tipper truck on the Accra–Tema Motorway has left one person dead, and three others injured after a massive fire engulfed the tanker late Monday night.
The crash occurred at about 11:49 p.m. between Saka Saka Park and Tanink Ghana when a fuel tanker belonging to GIG Empire collided head-on with a tipper truck. The impact triggered a fierce blaze that quickly consumed the tanker, raising fears of a catastrophic explosion along one of the country’s busiest highways.
Three victims identified as Kwabena Agyapong, Joseph Teye Quarshie and Aaron Kyei sustained injuries and were rushed to the Tema General Hospital before firefighters arrived at the scene.
A fourth victim, believed to be the driver of the tipper truck, was trapped in the wreckage and died in the inferno. Firefighters later recovered the charred remains and handed them over to police for preservation and further investigations. Authorities have not yet officially released the identity of the deceased.
The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) said an emergency call was received shortly before midnight, prompting the immediate deployment of a firefighting crew from the Tema Motorway Fire Station. Upon arrival, firefighters found the fuel tanker fully engulfed in flames.
Additional crews from the Ashaiman Fire Station and the Tema Industrial Area Fire Station were subsequently dispatched to support the operation. A water tanker from the Ashaiman Municipal Assembly also assisted firefighters in battling the blaze.
Through a coordinated multi-station response, the fire was brought under control within an hour and completely extinguished in the early hours of Tuesday, preventing what officials described as a potentially disastrous large-scale explosion.
The incident caused extensive damage to both vehicles. The fuel tanker was severely destroyed, with all 26 tyres burnt, while both vehicle cabins sustained significant structural damage. An undetermined quantity of fuel was also lost in the fire.
Recovery and cooling operations continued Tuesday morning as police and emergency personnel worked to clear the scene and restore normal traffic flow on the motorway.
The cause of the crash and the resulting fire remains under investigation.
The GNFS commended all responding crews and supporting agencies for their efforts, noting that their swift intervention helped avert a far greater tragedy.
CREDIT: MAVIS FANTEVI
