An auto crash that occurred at Yangoji-Gwagwalada Road, Abuja, on Sunday claimed the lives of at least 19 people while 8 others sustained various degrees of injury
The acting corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Dauda Biu, who confirmed the figures to journalists when he visited the accident scene, said the crash occurred early morning Sunday and involved three vehicles – two Toyota Hiace buses with registration numbers MUB- 30 LG and DWR-985 XJ and an articulated vehicle.
“Out of the 31 victims, eight persons comprising of seven males and one female sustained various degrees of injuries, while 19 others were burnt beyond recognition.
“Investigation showed that the main causes of the crash were speed limit violation and wrongful overtaking, which eventually resulted in the loss of control,’’ he said.
He said the Toyota Hiace bus with Registration Number MUB- 30 LG crashed into the Citroen articulated vehicle and burst into flames, killing all the passengers and driver on board.
“The second bus hit the first bus from behind and also caught fire. The fire melted the second bus with the Bauchi State number plate.
“It was coming from Takai, Kano State, while heading to Benin. The Citroen vehicle loaded chicken feeds from Zaria in Kaduna State and was heading to Akwa Ibom.
“The nineteen corpses were trapped but extricated by rescue operatives,’’ Mr Biu said.
Biu added that police had taken over the investigation and has forgotten all the necessary approvals for mass burial of 18 of the mutilated corpses, stating that bodies could not be taken to the morgue for identification as they were burnt beyond recognition
According to him the injured victims have been taken to nearby hospital in Kwali in the Federal Capital Territory for medical attention.
“Injured victims were taken to a nearby hospital in Kwali in the FCT, and one identified male corpse was deposited at the mortuary at Kwali General Hospital,’’ he said.
Mr Biu cautioned road users to avoid excessive speeding, wrongful overtaking and other bad driving behaviours.
He also re-emphasised that the corps would step up both sensitisation of the motoring public and enhance its patrol activities to deter traffic violators.
Mr Biu admonished the public to always call the FRSC toll-free line 122 and the National Traffic Radio 107.1 FM, which were always available for all road users to report emergencies at any given time.
NAN