No fewer than 12 persons were confirmed dead on Thursday while 30 others sustained injuries in an accident involving a trailer at the Hawan-Kibo community in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.
It was gathered that the articulated vehicle was loaded with bags of grains and human beings and was descending a hill on the dilapidated road when it crashed into a ditch.
Witnesses said that when the trailer, which was moving out of Jos, crashed it spilled its contents in the ditch, leaving many of the victims dead on the spot.
The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps in Plateau state, Godwin Alphonsus, confirmed the accident in Jos on Thursday.
He said, “It was a lone crash. The trailer was carrying bags of grains and human beings. It had a brake failure and crashed into a ditch while ascending a hill. The accident happened in the afternoon on Thursday.
“Since then, our men in Hawan-Kibo have been trying to rescue the victims. From the records so far, 11 persons died on the spot while 30 persons have been rescued and taken to the hospital.
“Only this evening, I learnt that one of the injured victims has also given up, bringing the number of dead persons to 12.”
The Sector Commander appealed to motorists to be extra vigilant while driving.
He said a situation whereby vehicles meant to carry loads are loaded with human beings at the same should be discouraged at all times.
“We have always told them to avoid carrying human beings with their loads. This is very dangerous and that is why people should avoid entering such vehicles for their safety,” he cautioned.
Many injured in Lagos-Ibadan expressway crash
In a similar development, a yet-to-be-ascertained number of persons were injured in an accident that occurred at the Mowe Bus Stop along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Thursday.
It was gathered that the accident occurred when a Toyota Hiace bus with number plate ACA 604 XT collided with a Volkswagen Yellow bus with number plate APP 427 YE, causing the yellow bus to overrun the drainage pathway along the road.
It was noticed at the scene of the accident that some persons believed to be occupants of both vehicles sustained varying degrees of injuries while police officers were seen rescuing some others.
It was also observed that the windshields of both vehicles were damaged.
A witness who identified himself simply as Fatai, said that the Hiace bus was on top speed when it collided with the Volkswagen from the back which caused the Volkswagen bus to overrun the drainage pathway.
Fatai said, “I was standing at the bus stop when I saw the collision between the two buses. The Hiace bus was coming at top speed when it collided with this Volkswagen bus.
“The collision was so severe that the Volkswagen bus overran the pathway on the drainage system. Many people were injured in the two buses.”
An occupant of the yellow bus who did not want his name mentioned disclosed that he was shocked when the collision occurred which led to him sustaining injuries.
He said, “I was in the yellow bus when I heard the sound of the collision with our vehicle from the back. There were three of us on the bus and I am the bus conductor. I, a passenger and the driver were on the bus when the accident happened. The third person jumped out of the vehicle and he sustained injuries on the head.
“Policemen have taken him and others injured to the hospital. You can see that I sustained injuries in my hand. It was a shocking experience.”
