Two pupils of the Martyrs of Uganda School in Santasi – Kumasi, were Wednesday morning crashed to death by a taxicab while on their way to school.
The driver of the taxi, Solomon Baifi, was said to have ignored the signal of a traffic warden to stop and drove through a group of pupils who were crossing the road.
The incident happened near the Opoku Ware Senior High School on the Kumasi – Obuasi highway.
Three other pupils, who sustained injuries with one in critical condition, were rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) and are said to be responding to treatment.
Baifi, who was in charge of a KIA Pregio taxicab with registration number AS 6156-09, was said to be driving on the shoulders of the road to avoid the traffic jam (‘go-slow’).
The traffic warden who usually assist the school children to cross was said to have signaled all other vehicles to stop for the children to cross but Baifi drove from behind on the shoulders of the road and run into the children, knocking down five of them.
The children were said to be pupils of Martyrs of Uganda and Opoku Ware Basic schools.
The Ashanti Regional Police Commander of the Motor, Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU), Chief Superintendent Peter Gyimah, who confirmed the incident to the Graphiconline said Baifi has been arrested and was in police custody.
The deceased are yet to be identified.
The Police Commander said the suspect would soon be processed for court and provisionally charged with murder.
He said the police had decided to charge him for murder because his actions showed that the act was deliberate.
He cautioned drivers to be cautious when driving in town and to obey traffic regulations.
According to him, if this driver had exercised a little patience and followed the other vehicles, the accident could have been avoided.
