A tragic accident on the Cape Coast-Accra highway has claimed the lives of five persons, while 12 others sustained severe injuries.

The unfortunate event occurred on Saturday afternoon exactly at Waakrom junction near Yamoransa on Monday afternoon.

A DAF truck with registration number AW 9548-13, loaded with about 700 bags of rice, developed a fault and had a head-on collision with a Toyota HiAce minibus with registration number GC 9728-21.

Members of the Waakrom community managed to rescue 12 persons before the Ghana National Fire Service, who arrived minutes later, took over to extricate five persons—four of whom died at the hospital.

The 12 persons, except for one who was pronounced dead, are receiving medical treatment at the Biriwa Health Centre.

The driver of the DAF truck and his passenger escaped unscathed.