Twenty occupants of a Bawku-bound 70-seater commuter bus, popularly called “Awudu Issaka” with registration number AS 5734E, died on the spot with more than 10 others in critical condition when the bus ran into a tipper truck with registration number ER4894C at Pong Tamale off the Tamale-Bolgatanga highway.

The ghastly accident, which occurred in the early hours of Thursday, according to eyewitnesses, resulted in over 30 fatalities.

Umar Alabira, the driver of the tipper truck belonging to Abukari Mahama Company Limited, a construction firm in Tamale, also died on the spot.

According to some of the victims who spoke to Daily Guide at the Tamale Hospital, the bus was from Accra while the tipper truck was believed to be returning from Bolgatanga with a load of sand.

The bus driver, they disclosed, lost control of the steering wheel when he dozed off.

The vehicle therefore veered off its lane, zigzagged on the main road and finally rammed into- the tipper truck that had parked at the edge of the road.

Kouri Tinga, Ali Nurideen, Abu Ayala Mahama and Ouadrago Bukari were among the deceased who were immediately identified.

Several others who sustained various injuries were admitted at the Tamale Teaching Hospital and the Savelugu Government Hospital.

Those who escaped with minor injuries were immediately treated and discharged.