Asamankese (E/R), Oct. 15, GNA - A driver who drove recklessly and crashed into another vehicle resulting in the death of eight persons has been fined eight million cedis or in default twelve months' imprisonment with hard labour by a circuit court at Asamankese.

In addition, Mustapha Yakubu, 54, who pleaded guilty, was ordered to pay a fine of five million cedis or serve additional 12 months in jail.

Giving the facts of the case, Police Inspector James Bassaw, said the accused, was driving a VW LT bus from Koforidua to Oda with 20 passengers on board and on reaching the outskirts of Akroso township, Yakubu suddenly swerved from the minor road to the left lane on the Oda-Agona-Swedru highway.

The vehicle collided with an on-coming Benz bus carrying a number of passengers causing the death of the eight passengers, six from the Benz bus and two from Yakubu's vehicle, the prosecutor said.

He said the accident also resulted in the injury of 21 persons, some of them seriously.