Kumawu Tragedy: Tipper truck crash claims four lives, sparks safety concerns
A devastating accident in Kumawu, Ashanti Region, has left four people dead, including two children, after a tipper truck loaded with sand veered off the road and rammed into a hair salon.
The incident occurred on Saturday, January 17, when the truck, reportedly transporting sand from an ongoing road construction site, lost control and crashed into a container structure serving as a salon. The victims were identified as the salon owner, her two children, and a customer who was inside at the time. All four died instantly from the impact.
Four others, including the truck driver, sustained injuries. Health officials confirmed that one critically injured victim has been referred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi for specialised care, while the remaining injured are receiving treatment at the Kumawu Government Hospital.
The tragedy has reignited concerns over safety in the community, particularly as it marks the second accident involving trucks operated by the same construction company working on the Kumawu road project. In a previous incident, one of the company’s trucks crashed into a mosque, though no casualties were recorded.
Speaking on Ghanakoma morning show on Akoma 87.9 FM in Kumasi, resident Kojo Sarfo Amoakohene voiced the community’s frustration. “The accident has put fear and panic into residents, especially those staying or doing business on the roadside. Residents are not happy about the Saturday disaster. We are appealing to the construction company to do something about the behaviour of their drivers. We are in a good relationship with them, but the current situation is turning things upside down,” he said.
The latest crash has intensified calls for stricter oversight of heavy-duty vehicles operating in residential areas, as Kumawu residents grapple with grief and growing anxiety over road safety.
About The Author
