Auto Crash Claims 10 in Kogi, Plateau States
No fewer than 10 persons lost their lives in separate road crashes that took place in Jos, Plateau State and along Okene-Lokoja road in Kogi State yesterday. Of the number, six died in Jos while four died in Kogi.
The six persons were killed and several others injured when a lorry driving into Jos from Kaduna state lost control and rammed into stationary vehicles and tricycles with passengers on board, at Faringada roundabouts in Jos North local government of Plateau state.
The ill-fated lorry was conveying maize from Saminaka in Kaduna State to Onitsha through Jos when the break failed.
An eye witness said, “While the driver was struggling to control the vehicle, it rammed into three tricycles loaded with passengers and three other cars parked along the same road and crushed them. Six persons died on the spot while over ten others sustained severe injuries”.
Another witness said it took over one hour before the bodies of those trapped under the lorry could be retrieved, leaving the entire area in pandemonium.
The state Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO), Mr. M. Tyopev confirmed that three people died in the accident, adding the driver of the lorry, Mr. Fatai Onaolapo had been arrested and presently helping the police to unravel the cause of the accident.
He said, “Preliminary investigations carried out revealed that the driver of the lorry, which was conveying maize to Onitsha from Saminaka in Kaduna state, was over speeding when it lost control.”
He added that the injured persons are presently receiving treatment at Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Jos.
The accident in Kogi occurred at about 9.30 am yesterday when a Nissan passengers car with registration number LKJ 134 AA, had head-on Collusion with another Toyota Sienna with Registration Number BDG 787 XT.
THISDAY gathered that among the four passengers that lost their lives were Rev. Elijah Sunday Onigbonsaye of First ECWA Church Lokoja, his friend, Pastor S.S Obadofin and two Brick Layers who had accomplished the Pastor to his village in Oke-Aki via Mopa to do some work in his house.