Five persons were killed on the spot and more than 40 others seriously injured when a water tanker ran though a funeral procession at Bibiani in the Western Region last Saturday.

The driver of the tanker, who was said to have ignored signals to slow down, bolted during the melee that followed the tragedy.

Only one fot he victims, a woman, has been identified and her name given as Akuba.

Her body and the bodies of the other four have been deposited at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) and the injured sent to various health institutions, including KATH and the Bibiani, Nkawie and Nyinahin government hospitals.

Eyewitnesses told the Daily Graphic that the large number of mourners were on their way to the cemetery at Bibiani New Town to bury a loved one when the accident occurred.

According to them, the coffin containing the mortal remains of the deceased was placed on a KIA cargo truck on which were other mourners, while others were walking in front and behind the truck.

Moving slowly behind the mourners was a Toyota RAV4 vehicle.

The eyewitnesses said all of a sudden, the tanker appeared at top speed from behind the Toyota vehicle.

Some of the mourners signalled the driver to slow down but he ignored it and crashed into the Toyota with full force before running into the mourners, killing the five people on the spot.

As the people struggled to save lives, the tanker driver took advantage and escaped.

The police at Bibiani confirmed the accident and said efforts were being made to trace the driver.

Source: Daily Graphic