Medical officers have confirmed a rise in death toll to ten following Friday night’s accident on the Krachie road.

Over fifty others remain in critical condition at the Krachi Government Hospital as doctors race against time to stabilise them.

The incident occurred as the passengers were said to be travelling in the cargo bed of a Rhino truck, from Osramani to Gyasayo in the Krachi West District of the Oti Region.

One of the victims said upon reaching Monkra, a passenger pleaded with the driver to stop so she could attend to nature’s call.

The passenger who gave her name only as Vivian said, the driver of the Rhino cargo truck attempted to stop but because he was speeding he was not able to do so forcing the car to skid off the road into the gutters and somersaulted twice.

But speaking to JoyNews’ Oti Regional Correspondent Peter Senoo, Divisional Police Commander for Krachi West, Supt Alex Wowolo said: the driver, “on reaching a section of the road near the Monkra township, lost control of the steering wheel and that resulted in the accident.”

Confirming the latest figures, Acting Medical Superintendent at the Krachi Government Hospital, Dr. Edmund Tagoe disclosed to JoyNews that many of the injuries are life-threatening.

“We had to take care of about fifty patients with all kinds of injuries and some near-death so I don’t think we could have been prepared enough for that. We can currently confirm, that ten deaths have been recorded. There are fifty-four on admission with a few in critical condition,” Dr. Tagoe said.

Some passengers on the vehicle were said to be Seventh Day Adventist students returning from the funeral of their headmaster.