Tema, Aug 17, GNA - Sixteen people lost their lives early Monday morning when the Metro Mass Transit (MMT) bus they were travelling on ran into a stationed articulated truck at Sege in the Dangbe East District.

The bodies of the dead have been deposited at the Bartor Hospital Mortuary, while the injured have also been admitted at the same hospital.

Mr Timothy Osafo-Affum, Public Relations Officer of the Tema Regional Fire Service, told the Ghana News Agency that residents at Sege said the accident occurred at about 0430 hours.

Mr Osafo-Affum stated that news of the accident on the Tema=96Ada road got to his outfit at about 0540 hours through an emergency call.

He added that at about 0615 hours when the fire personnel got to the scene some of the victims had already been sent to the hospital, while 30 others were trapped under the vehicle.

The PRO indicated that 15 of the trapped victims were found dead when the personnel cut open the vehicle in an attempt to rescue them.

One other victim who was in critical condition died on the way to the hospital.

Mr Osafo-Affum said the accident occurred when the Accra bound MMT bus from Mepe in the Volta Region ran into the articulated truck which was parked in the middle of the road without any warning sign.

He called on drivers to desist from abandoning faulty vehicles on the road without a warning sign, as it was a dangerous act which was claiming the lives of people.

He also called on the public to immediately report such accidents to the Fire Service as it was well equipped for rescue operations.

Mr Osafo-Affum further said that a lot of the people who lost their lives could have been saved if information had reached his outfit earlier.