Police in the Western Region is considering preferring criminal charges against the proprietor of Learners Bridge Academy for negligence in the fatal accident involving the school’s bus and a tipper truck, leading to the death of the 7 persons – 5 pupils and 2 teachers.

The Western Regional Commander for Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), Chief Supt. Richard Appiah told Empire News’ Emmanuel Ohene-Gyan that preliminary police investigation suggests the school bus with registration number GC2947-09 was overloaded with 43 pupils including their teachers.

Six pupils and another teacher are also in critical condition and have been transported to the 37 military hospital and Effia Nkwanta hospital in the Western Region where the incident occurred.

According to police sources, the accident occurred at about 4.30pm when their Sprinter school bus with traveling from Dompim to Ahwetieso a suburb of Tarkwa collided with a tipper truck with registration no GT 9135-13 belonging to Shalonis Company.

The driver of the school bus Clement Oduro aged 44 years reportedly lost control upon reaching a curve at a section of the road between Dompim and Bonsa, veering into the opposite lane and collided with the truck which was heading towards Nseum enroot to Adamus mines.

The 5 pupils aged between 3 and 14 years died on arrival at the Tarkwa and Agona Nkwanta hospitals. Their bodies have been deposited at the Effia Nkwanta and Tarkwa hospital morgue respectively.

The driver of the Sprinter School bus is currently on admission at new Government hospital, Tarkwa while the truck driver Samual Agyei also 44 years is in police custody at Dompim to assist in Police investigation.

Other pupils also sustained injuries and are receiving treatment at various hospitals.

Regional Commander of the MTTD, Chief Superintendent Richard Appiah tells Empire News they will apply the appropriate sanctions to those who will be found culpable in the cause of the accident including the management of the school for overloading the Sprinter bus with 43 school children.