Forklift accident kills roadside trader at Brewery Traffic Light
A young roadside trader has died after a forklift reportedly lost control and crashed into traders at the Brewery Traffic Light intersection in the Asokwa Municipality of the Ashanti Region.
The deceased, identified only as Jennifer, was a well-known pawpaw seller at the busy intersection.
The accident occurred at about 9:00 a.m. on Monday, September 21, 2026, when the forklift, travelling from Asokwa towards Atonsu, reportedly suffered a brake failure and veered off its lane.
Eyewitnesses said the heavy-duty machine lost control as it approached the traffic light and headed towards a group of roadside traders.
A fellow trader and friend of the deceased, Ama Sefa, said they had moved away from the road after the traffic light turned green and were waiting for traffic to stop before resuming sales.
She said they suddenly saw the forklift approaching at high speed, with the driver reportedly shouting that the brakes had failed.
Ama Sefa said she managed to escape, but Jennifer was struck and dragged by the forklift, dying at the scene.
Other eyewitnesses described the incident as chaotic, saying traders and motorists rushed to the scene in an attempt to rescue the victim, but she had already succumbed to her injuries.
Police sources said the forklift driver fled the scene immediately after the accident and remains at large. The machine has since been impounded.
Personnel from the Asokwa Divisional Police Command arrived shortly after the incident to control the crowd and manage traffic, which had been brought to a standstill.
The deceased’s body has been conveyed to the morgue for preservation and autopsy.
Police say efforts are underway to apprehend the driver to assist with investigations.
The incident has renewed concerns about the safety of roadside traders operating at the Brewery Traffic Light and other major intersections in Kumasi.
By Esther Padmore Amonoo
