Takoradi bus assistant crushed to death while attempting to repair faulty vehicle
On Sunday, January 4, 2026, Kofi Darko (39), a driver’s assistant on a commercial Yutong bus, tragically lost his life while endeavouring to rectify a mechanical issue with the bus’s rear wheels.
Reports indicate that the deceased was crushed by the vehicle while attempting to repair a mechanical fault. The driver, William Opoku Asare, stated that he was unaware of his assistant’s actions.
He explained that a mechanic had been contracted the previous day to address the same fault the assistant was attempting to repair.
Mr Opoku disclosed that he had known the assistant for twelve years as someone inquisitive about mechanical work, adding that he often assisted mechanics hired to repair the bus.
He believes the assistant, having worked on the fault with the mechanic the previous day, may have thought he could fix it alone.
“I had just returned from Accra with tourists to the Takoradi Harbour. I realised the bus had developed a fault, so I decided to address it at the Takoradi main station. The mechanic and my assistant fixed it together. We drove the bus from the station and parked it at Abenbebom. The next morning, I realised the vehicle was unbalanced.”
“I phoned the mechanic about the new development, and he told me to start the engine and check for the leak. We found the leak, and I decided to rest while waiting for the mechanic to arrive. Unknown to me, my assistant had gone for some tools to try and fix it. He was alone, working around the back wheels, when he was crushed by the bus. Someone called and broke the news to me,” he narrated.
The Ghana National Fire Service was quickly notified, but the assistant had already died when they arrived. The police have since visited the scene to conduct preliminary investigations.
The body of the driver’s assistant has been deposited at the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital morgue. According to Mr Opoku, the deceased’s family has been informed.
He is, however, troubled that the police are unwilling to release the body to the family for burial soon.
“The family in Kumasi says they will send a delegation to Takoradi to assist with the investigations and hopefully retrieve the body for burial,” Mr Opoku added.
