23 die in Katsina, Edo auto accidents

Posted by admin Edo, Headlines, Katsina, State News Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011

TWENTY-THREE persons reportedly died in three auto accidents that occurred on Tuesday across Edo and Katsina states.

Nine persons were confirmed dead in separate road accidents that occurred in Jattu in Estako West Local Government Area and Aduwawa in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.

According to reports, while six persons, made up of four males and two female adults died in the Aduwawa accident, only three persons died in the Jattu accident.

The Aduwawa accident, said to have occurred on Tuesday at about 8.30 p.m., involved a commercial Toyota Hiace with registration number XG 993 BEN and two Mercedes Benz trucks with registration numbers XG 210 MKA and XJ 111 USL.

Edo State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Henry Olatunji, who confirmed the Aduwawa accident, said the victims died at the hospitals they were rushed to.

“No death was recorded on the spot. Six persons died at the hospitals we took them to. Three died at our clinic, while the remaining ones died at the Central Hospital,” Mr Olatunji added.

Meanwhile, the three persons that died in the Jattu accident were crushed by a trailer with registration number XP 66 AKD, which reportedly had a brake failure while descending the slope from Jattu axis.

The trailer was said to have rammed into a Passat car and four motorcycles killing some riders and a female roadside seller.

Divisional Traffic Officer in the area, Moses Ogboi, confirmed the accident, saying the injured had been taken to a private hospital while the driver was in police custody.

Meanwhile, 14 persons were confirmed dead and 43 others injured in an auto accident at Yanbita village in Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the accident, which occurred on Tuesday at about 7.30 p.m, involved a Toyota bus registered XE 968 KTN and a J5 bus registered XF 597 KTN.

The Malumfashi Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mr Abdullahi Ma’aji, said the two passenger vehicles had a collision and that the 14 victims died on the spot, while those injured were rushed to the Malumfashi General Hospital for medical attention.

It was gathered that the Toyota bus was conveying passengers from Kaduna to Katsina, while the J5 bus was on its way to Funtua from Mashi in Katsina State when the accident occurred.

Ma’aji, who attributed the accident to speeding, said the corpses had been deposited at the hospital morgue.

He said investigation was in progress, while families of the victims were being contacted.

The FRSC Unit Commander, Mr Betara Umar, also confirmed the accident and urged motorists to always drive with care.

-Tribunewp_posts