5 in critical condition after bus runs over them in Kumasi

At least, five people were injured after a bus ran over them at Roman Hill, a busy commercial hub in Kumasi, Monday morning

It took the intervention of volunteers to rescue and convey the victims, mostly women, who had been trapped under the commercial vehicle (trotro) to the hospital.

It is unclear what caused the accident but police suspect the driver lost control of the steering wheel after brake failure at about 11 a.m. 

The bus descended from uphill in this busy street

Traders and other pedestrians ran helter-skelter for their life as the van moved towards them amid shouts for help.

It was, however, too late for the victims, some who were busily transacting business, to escape.

This plastic container belongs to one of the victims

"We heard shouts of Awurade yie! Awurade yie [Lord, Lord] by the women. Then I saw the minivan coming towards us. It ran over one person before coming to a complete halt. We checked and found a woman and a man trapped under the vehicle.

“We manage to lift the van onto its side to rescue them. The last person we saved was this stoutly built woman," an eyewitness said in Twi.

Police from the Manhyia Division were at the scene to ensure free traffic flow.

Chief Inspector Bennet Nkoah is the Station Officer with the Motor, Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) confirmed that at least five people have been rushed to the hospital.

"We received a distress call alerting us of the accident so we rushed in to help in conveying the injured persons to the hospital,” he said.

He said had it not been for divine intervention, more casualties would have been recorded.