Three individuals, tragically including a mother and her son, were instantly killed, and several others severely injured in a catastrophic head-on collision on the critical Accra-Kumasi Highway.

The accident, which occurred near the Rider Iron and Steel Company at Odumasi Ohene Nkwanta, has renewed urgent calls for increased enforcement against reckless driving on Ghana’s major arterial roads.

The deadly incident, which unfolded around noon, involved a high-performance BMW saloon car (Registration GE 4700-20) travelling from Kumasi towards Accra, and a compact Toyota Yaris (Registration AS 3861-24).

Reckless Overtaking Cited as Cause

Police reports from the scene indicate the collision was the direct result of a “wrongful overtaking attempt” by the driver of the BMW.

The high-speed manoeuvre placed the BMW directly in the path of the oncoming Toyota Yaris near Odumasi, resulting in an impact of extreme force.

Two of the victims—the driver of the Toyota Yaris and one passenger—were killed instantly upon collision.

A third victim, a female passenger in the Toyota Yaris, succumbed to her critical injuries shortly after arrival at the Hope Care Hospital in Odumasi.

Sources close to the investigation confirmed that the deceased included a mother and her young son who were travelling in the Toyota Yaris.

Victims and Emergency Response

Emergency medical services and local police rushed to the site, which was immediately cordoned off for investigation.

Several other passengers who were in the BMW sustained various degrees of injuries and were immediately transported for medical attention.

“The bodies of the deceased have been deposited at Konongo Government hospital Morgue,” police officials confirmed late Sunday.

The number of victims involved underscores the severity of the accident.

Road safety statistics reveal that wrongful overtaking and excessive speed account for an estimated 35% of all fatal accidents on Ghana's major highways annually, making them leading causes of road fatalities.

The police are preparing manslaughter charges pending the full conclusion of their inquiry.

The collision highlights the dangers of the 245-kilometer stretch of the Accra-Kumasi Highway, which is often cited as one of the country's most accident-prone routes.