A tragic incident has claimed the life of a 39-year-old driver’s assistant, Kofi Darko, after he was crushed by a commercial Yutong bus while attempting to repair a mechanical fault in Takoradi in the Western Region.
The incident occurred on Sunday, January 4, 2026, at Abenbebom, where the bus had been parked. Reports indicate that the deceased was working around the rear wheels of the vehicle when it suddenly moved, crushing him in the process.
The driver of the bus, William Opoku Asare, said he was unaware that his assistant had gone to work on the vehicle at the time of the accident. According to him, a mechanic had been engaged a day earlier to fix the same mechanical problem.
Mr Opoku explained that he had known the deceased for about 12 years and described him as someone who had a strong interest in mechanical work. He noted that Kofi Darko often assisted mechanics whenever the bus developed faults.
“He was very curious about mechanical work and always wanted to help whenever there was a problem with the bus,” he said.
Recounting events leading up to the incident, Mr Opoku said he had returned from Accra with tourists to the Takoradi Harbour when he noticed the vehicle had developed a fault. He decided to address the issue at the Takoradi main station, where both the mechanic and his assistant worked together to fix it.
“We later drove the bus from the station and parked it at Abenbebom. The next morning, I realised the vehicle was unbalanced,” he narrated.
According to him, after contacting the mechanic again, he was advised to start the engine and check for a possible leak. After identifying the leak, he decided to rest while waiting for the mechanic to arrive.
Unbeknown to the driver, his assistant had gone in search of tools and attempted to fix the fault on his own.
“He was alone, working around the back wheels, when the bus crushed him. Someone later called me to break the news,” Mr Opoku said.
The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) was alerted and rushed to the scene, but the victim was already dead upon arrival. Personnel from the Ghana Police Service later visited the scene to conduct preliminary investigations.
The body of the deceased has since been deposited at the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital morgue. Mr Opoku confirmed that the family of Kofi Darko, who are based in Kumasi, have been informed of the incident.
He, however, expressed concern about delays in the release of the body for burial, adding that the family plans to send a delegation to Takoradi to assist with investigations and retrieve the body.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing.
