A young roadside trader has died in a tragic accident 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 incident occurred on Monday, September 21, 2026, at about 9:00 a.m., when a forklift travelling from Asokwa towards Atonsu reportedly suffered brake failure and veered off its lane.
According to eyewitnesses, the heavy-duty machine lost control as it approached the traffic light and veered towards a group of traders operating along the roadside.
Recounting the incident, Ama Sefa, a fellow trader and friend of the deceased, said they were both selling along the main road when the traffic light was red.
“When the light turned green, we moved away from the road and stood by the side to wait for the traffic to stop again so we could continue selling,” she recounted.
“It was at that moment that we saw the forklift coming towards us at top speed. The driver was shouting that his brakes had failed.”
Ama Sefa said she managed to jump to safety, but Jennifer was not so lucky.
“She was trapped. The forklift hit her and dragged her. She died at the scene,” she said, fighting back tears.
Other eyewitnesses corroborated the account, describing the scene as chaotic and distressing. Traders and motorists reportedly rushed to the scene in an attempt to rescue the victim, but she had already succumbed to her injuries.
According to police sources, the forklift operator fled the scene shortly after the accident and is currently at large. The machine has since been impounded by the police.
Personnel from the Asokwa Divisional Police Command arrived at the scene shortly after the incident to control the crowd and manage traffic, which had been brought to a standstill.
The body of the deceased has since been conveyed to the morgue for preservation and autopsy.
Police say efforts are underway to apprehend the forklift operator to assist with investigations into the incident.
The accident has renewed concerns about the safety of roadside traders operating around the Brewery Traffic Light and other major intersections in Kumasi.