15 killed in weekend crashes

Osagie Otabor, Benin/ Precious Igbonwelundu/ Nwanosike Onu, AwkaA STRING of tragedies on Saturday claimed 15 lives in Ogun, Edo and Anambra States while 10 others were injured and subsequently hospitalized.Seven of the victims died in a multiple accident close to the old toll gate at Ota, Ogun State.The accident which involved a Dangote trailer laden with cement, a space wagon and a commercial bus occurred around 11:30am.Eye witnesses said the brake of the trailer apparently failed, causing it to ram into the other vehicles.A mob immediately set fire to the trailer which bore no registration number plate.The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Ogun State said 17 persons comprising six men, two boys, eight women and a girl were involved in the accident.Sector Commander Clement Oladele listed the dead as two adult males, three women, a boy and a girl.Ten persons sustained injuries and were rescued to Ota General Hospital, while the dead victims were deposited at the Ifo General Hospital morgue.The crash occurred at a spot notorious for frequent accidents that have claimed over 40 lives in the last five years.Motorists especially vehicles are urged to drive with caution when using that section of the corridor.Passers-by should also desist from turning themselves into a mob and resorting to self-help. Willful destruction of public properties or accident vehicles, irrespective of the level of provocation, is a crime. There are standard ways of handling and reporting grievances to appropriate law enforcement agencies.Members of the public can obtain details of the crash at the FRSC command in Ota or contact the aforementioned medical facilities.Read Also:Six pilgrims killed in Osun crashFive Okomu Oil Palm staff razed to deathFive employees of Okomu Oil Plc in Edo State were identified as victims of the Edo State motor accident which occurred on Iguobazuwa road in Ovia South West local Government Area on Friday night.Two others were critically injured and are currently receiving treatment in the hospital.They were all riding on a bus from the companys Extension 2 to the head office when the vehicle unexpectedly rammed into a lorry.An explosion followed, setting the two vehicles ablaze.The road was subsequently rendered impassable for other vehicles.An official of the company who does not want to be named confirmed the death of their staff.They were coming to the head office from Extension 2. It is a sad day for us, the official said yesterday.Anambra road crash kills three, injure eightThe third road accident involved a stationary DAF lorry with registration number, GGE167XP and a Toyota Hummer Bus with registration number, BAL 266XA on the Enugu -Onitsha expressway at Amansea, Awka South Local Government Area.Three persons were killed while eight others were seriously injured.The bus had on board 14 passengers who were said to be on their way to Jalingo, Taraba State from Lagos.Time was 6am.An eyewitness said the bus rammed into the stationary lorry.The Anambra State Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission FRSC, Mr Andrew Kumapayi confirmed the incident to reporters in Awka.The scene of the accident was cordoned off by the FRSC and other security agencies.Kumapayi, said the FRSC rushed the injured victims to Chukwuemeka Odumegu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital, Amaku.He however, consoled with the families of the dead and wished the injured victims speedy recovery.
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