Saturday 6 April 2013

36 killed in Benin road crash


Scores of people were confirmed dead yesterday in a multiple fatal crash at Igbogui market along the Ore -Benin highway.

The accident involved a truck belonging to Dangote company, a tanker laden with PMS (fuel)
and a luxury bus belonging to the Young Shall Grow Transport Company.
Public Education Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps Jonas Agwu said preliminary reports indicated that “a tyre from the Dangote truck suddenly pulled out and rammed into the tanker which caught fire immediately.  The luxury bus which was in speed, lost control and ran into the blazing fire, consuming its occupants.
“However, an FRSC team was on hand to rescue three passengers while 30 others died from the luxury bus. The tanker driver with his assistant, in addition to the truck driver and his assistant were also confirmed dead. Two children were also consumed by the fire which spread to a nearby mechanic workshop, burning eight additional vehicles resulting to a heavy traffic gridlock.”
Meanwhile, a detachment of the FRSC, Police and a construction company were at the scene for intensive traffic control and diversion of route to ensure seamless traffic flow along the corridor, he said.
The Corps advised road users on Benin road to take Oluku junction - Ifon-Owo-Akure road to Lagos while vehicles from Lagos are advised to take Akure-Owo road .  The FRSC also contacted the Young Shall Grow transport company and has a scanned copy of its manifest which confirms that 30 persons boarded the bus earlier in the day from the Jibowu terminus to Enugu.
Disturbed by the recent spate of road crash fatalities linked to speeding and reckless driving, the Corps has decided to evoke its statutory powers to institute legal actions against drivers and transport operators whose vehicles are responsible for such crashes. Part of this arrangement includes the Corps’ resolve to assist victims and relations of road crash victims to seek compensation from such fleet operators.

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