On Sunday, May 14, 2023, firefighters from the Ejisu Fire Station were called to respond to a distressing incident involving a Man Diesel Truck with the registration number GA 5246 - 10 at Juaso Water Works in the Asante Akim South of the Ashanti Region. Unfortunately, the nearest fire engine from Konongo was out of commission, prompting the dispatch from Ejisu Fire Station.
Upon arrival at the scene, the firefighters assessed the situation and discovered that the Man Diesel Truck had been severely damaged due to the impact of a crash. The driver's mate, a 16-year-old named Mutala Yussif, managed to escape the crash unharmed. However, the driver, Sumaila Ibrahim, 36 years old, was trapped in the head compartment of the truck and suffered severe burns. Additionally, approximately 500 bags of cashew nuts inside the truck were engulfed in flames.
The brave firefighters swiftly tackled the raging fire, and amidst their efforts, they retrieved the badly charred body of the driver. The Juaso Police were then notified, and they took custody of the deceased for preservation and further investigation. Unfortunately, both the Man Diesel Truck and its contents sustained significant fire damage.
According to Mutala Yussif, a car had recklessly overtaken their Man Diesel Truck while they were en route to Tema. In an attempt to avoid a collision, the truck driver swerved off its lane, resulting in the truck hitting the pavement of a steel bridge. The impact caused friction between the trailer and the metal rails of the bridge, leading to the truck somersaulting and landing on the roadside and nearby bushes, with its parts scattered.
Preliminary investigations revealed that sparks generated from the trailer's collision with the steel bridge ignited the fire, which rapidly spread throughout the rear of the trailer. The flames then reached the head compartment, where the trapped driver was unable to escape, ultimately leading to his tragic demise.
The Ejisu Fire Station responded to a distress call regarding a twin incident involving a crashed Man Diesel Truck and a subsequent fire at Juaso Water Works. Despite the challenges posed by the absence of a functioning fire engine at the Konongo Fire Station, the firefighters successfully extinguished the flames and recovered the body of the deceased driver. The incident serves as a reminder of the risks faced by drivers and the crucial role played by firefighters in emergency situations.