_By ; Sa’adatu Jummai_
Tragedy struck yesterday along Crusher leaving about 6 people dead and several others injured.
According to the RTC report from Zebra 43, the crash happened at 2:36pm, with the response team arriving at the scene just 10 minutes later.
The accident involved a commercial truck, a DAF blue-colored vehicle with registration number RBC23XF, operated by Teile Express. Unfortunately, the driver’s details were not provided. The probable cause of the crash was attributed to excessive speed and reckless driving.
The consequences of this crash were quite dire. Eighty-two people were involved in the accident, with 60 sustaining injuries, including fractures, head injuries, and bruises. Sadly, six lives were lost, while 16 people were rescued. None of the occupants were reported to have used seatbelts or other defensive gadgets.
In light of this incident, the Hon Commissioner for Transportation, Hon Atuluku Victor Levi stated the compliance with rules and regulations binding on road usage and effective use of seatbelts and other defensive gadgets will significantly reduce road crashes of any degree on our roads.
Hon Atuluku disclosed that the level of casualties was worsened by cows and several people the trailer carried together and stressed that the Ministry as a supervisory body that regulates transportation activities in the state, may have to disallow such trailers from passing through the State through stiff enforcement.
He lamented that “this tragic incident is a stark reminder of the importance of road safety. As a state, we have been working tirelessly to improve road safety through various initiatives, including the establishment of the Kogi State Traffic Management Authority (KOTRAMA) and the provision of training for drivers and pedestrians.”
Speaking further, he stated that the response to the crash was swift, with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) collaborating with the police and civil defense to rescue the victims. The injured were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) and Specialist Hospital in Lokoja, while the corpses were deposited at the FMC mortuary.
In his summation “We urge all drivers to exercise caution and adhere to traffic regulations. The use of seatbelts and other safety measures can significantly reduce the risk of injury or death in the event of a crash.”
He added that ” we must reiterate the importance of road safety, we must all play a role in promoting road safety and this includes obeying traffic rules, using safety equipment, and exercising caution while driving.”
By working together, we can prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.”Let us join hands to make our roads safer for everyone.”
Public Relations Officer.
Kogi State Ministry of Transportation.
