Three Dead in Fiery Multi-Vehicle Collision at Birimso Bridge as STC Clarifies Passenger Safety

A tragic multi-vehicle collision on the Accra-Kumasi N6 highway near Bunso Junction has claimed three lives and left several others injured. The accident, which occurred on Monday, August 3, 2026, at the Birimso Bridge in Etukrom, involved an Intercity STC bus, a fuel tanker, a Mitsubishi pick-up, and a Kia Sorento. The death toll rose to three after an 11-year-old girl succumbed to her injuries at the hospital, adding to the two fatalities initially recorded at the scene. Emergency responders from the Ghana National Fire Service and the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) worked extensively to manage the site and assist the victims.

The impact of the collision triggered a massive fire that gutted the fuel tanker, the Mitsubishi pick-up, and the STC bus, while the Kia Sorento sustained significant damage. Seven individuals, including five men and two women, sustained various degrees of injury and were rushed to Hawa Memorial Hospital for treatment. To manage the resulting traffic gridlock and blockade on the N6 highway, authorities redirected commuters through Nsutam and Apedwa. The fire service eventually brought the blaze under control, though the wreckage caused a total blockade of the Birimso bridge for several hours.

In the aftermath of the crash, a viral video featuring the STC bus driver—appearing distressed and bloodied—led to public alarm when he suggested only ten people had survived. However, Nuru Hamidan, the Deputy Managing Director for Finance and Administration of the State Transport Company, moved swiftly to clarify the situation. He confirmed that all 31 passengers on board the STC bus were accounted for and survived the incident. Mr. Hamidan explained that the driver’s statement was a result of shock; the driver only saw passengers exiting through the front door and was unaware that many others had safely escaped through the rear exit. The fatalities reported were occupants of the private vehicle and the tanker involved, rather than the STC coach.

Investigations into the exact cause of the pile-up are currently underway as authorities work to clear the wreckage and fully restore the flow of traffic on the N6 highway. Intercity STC Coaches Ltd has reiterated its commitment to passenger safety and is cooperating with the police in their inquiry. This incident has once again sparked urgent calls for enhanced road safety measures and stricter enforcement of traffic regulations on Ghana’s major highways to prevent similar devastating multi-vehicle accidents in the future.