PHOTO: Multiple Accident Claims Over 70 Lives On Benin-Ore Road

An accident which occurred on Friday afternoon in Ugbogui, Edo state claimed the lives of over 70 persons according to eye witness accounts.

However the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has claimed that only 32 lives were lost in the accident.

A statement signed by FRSC’s  Corps Public Education Officer, Jonas Agwu, claimed that an FRSC team was on hand to rescue three passengers while 30 others died from the luxury bus.

“The tanker driver with his conductor, in addition to the Truck driver and his conductor were also confirmed dead. Two children were also consumed by the fire which spread to a nearby mechanic workshop, burning 8 additional vehicles resulting to a heavy traffic gridlock” the statement added.

The tragedy occurred Friday afternoon when a diesel tanker and a trailer collided with a fully-loaded commercial luxury bus.

Eye witness accounts say the bus which was travelling from Lagos caught fire and the only three passengers were seen trying to escape the inferno but there are fears that they may not have survived the fire.

A statement signed by FRSC’s  Corps Public Education Officer, Jonas Agwu, claimed that “36 persons were feared dead this afternoon in a multiple fatal crash at Igbogui market along the Ore – Benin highway which involved a Dangote truck, a tanker laden with pms (fuel) and a luxury bus belonging to the Young Shall Grow Transport Company.”

Explaining the cause of the accident, the statement further reveals that “preliminary reports from the FRSC 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 on speed, lost control and ran into the blazing fire, consuming its occupants.”

“However, an FRSC team was on hand to rescue 3 passengers while 30 others died from the Luxury bus. The Tanker driver with his conductor, in addition to the Truck driver and his conductor were also confirmed dead. Two children were also consumed by the fire which spread to a nearby mechanic workshop, burning 8 additional vehicles resulting to a heavy traffic gridlock” the statement added.

Meanwhile, a detachment of the FRSC, Police and the Construction Company were at the scene for intensive traffic control and diversion of route to ensure seamless traffic flow along the corridor. The Corps advises 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 to ascertain from its manifest, 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 FRSC stated that it has concluded plans to “evoke its statutory mandate by instituting legal actions against the driver and transport operators whose vehicles are responsible for such crashes.”

“Part of this arrangement include the Corps’ resolve to assist victims and relations of road crash victims to seek compensation from such fleet operators” the statement concluded.