David Okine, 39, the driver of a tipper truck with registration number AS 5907 – Y, who killed eight mourners at Achiase in the Eastern Region, after ramming into a funeral procession on Saturday July 23, has been put under police guard while he receives treatment at the Akyem Oda Government Hospital.

Five of the victims died on the spot and three died later. They were six females and two males. The bodies are at morgue of the same hospital where 24 of the mourners, who sustained injuries, were admitted.

Confirming the incident to Class News, Eastern Regional Police PRO, ASP Yaw Nketia Yeboah said the truck was trying to overtake another vehicle when it surged into the funeral procession.

“The mourners were on foot. A taxi cab which was conveying the dead body was also hit in addition to one Hyundai Bus with passengers. Five people comprising four men and one female were crushed on the spot. By the time police reached the hospital after a hectic time taking the victims out, eight people have been confirmed dead.”