No fewer than 14 persons lost their lives yesterday in an auto crash on the Benin-Okene Expressway.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the incident, which occurred around the Ewu slope in Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State, involved a 15-seater Toyota Hiace bus belonging to Edo City Transports Service and an articulated vehicle.
The truck, which was said to be coming from Abuja ran over the bus, resulting in the death of all passengers on board.
A witness, Mr. Ben Omoede, said the incident occurred when the brakes of the articulated vehicle failed.
“The truck’s brakes failed and it ran over the Toyota bus coming from the opposite side and killed the 13 passengers and the driver,’’ he said.
Officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Nigeria Red Cross Society evacuated the corpses to Irrua Specialist Hospital in Edo State.
Chairman of Edo Central branch of the Red Cross, Mike Odiahi, who was at the scene, confirmed the incident to newsmen.
He said: “14 dead bodies have been recovered and they have been taken to the mortuary at Irrua Specialist Hospital.’’
Odiahi, who lamented the frequent accidents around the Ewu slope, advised road safety officials to ensure regular patrols in the area to prevent further accidents.
Friday 30 May 2014
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