Five people are in critical condition and 13 others sustained injuries after a Kia truck loaded with coconuts crashed into a crowd during a float at Agona Asafo in the Agona East District of Ghana’s Central Region.

Ishmael Odoom, the Assemblyman for the Agona Asafo Electoral Area, explained that the incident occurred during the community’s annual football gala, which traditionally marks the opening of the Kwabo Festival.

According to Odoom, after the tournament, the winning team and their supporters took to the main street in a celebratory float when the accident happened.

“The Kia, heavily loaded with coconuts, failed to stop despite seeing the large crowd and ran into the people celebrating on the street,” he said.

All 18 injured individuals were rushed to the Agona Swedru Government Hospital, where five remain in critical condition.

Authorities are investigating the circumstances that led to the vehicle losing control.