19 die in Sunday auto crash in Abuja

At least nineteen people have been confirmed dead in an auto crash in Abuja on Sunday, September 18.

Eight others were injured in the accident, according to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC). 

Dauda Biu, Acting Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), confirmed the figures to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) during a visit to the accident scene on Yangoji-Gwagwalada Road. 

Biu said the crash involved three vehicles – two Toyota Hiace buses with registration numbers MUB- 30 LG and DWR-985 XJ and an articulated vehicle.

Biu said 31 people were involved in the accident. 

“Out of the 31 victims, eight persons comprising of seven males and one female sustained various degrees of injuries, while 19 others were burnt beyond recognition.

“Investigation showed that the main causes of the crash were speed limit violation and wrongful overtaking which eventually resulted in loss of control,’’ he said.

He said one of the buses crashed into the articulated vehicle and caught fire, killing everyone on board.

“The second bus hit the first bus from behind and also caught fire. The fire melted the second bus with the Bauchi State number plate.

“It was coming from Takai, Kano State while heading to Benin. The Citroen vehicle loaded chicken feeds from Zaria in Kaduna State and was heading to Akwa Ibom.

“The 19 corpses were trapped but extricated by rescue operatives,’’ Biu said.

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He said the police were investigating the cause of the accident, adding that the bodies of the victims were burnt beyond recognition. 

“Clearing of obstructions for free flow of traffic is still ongoing as you can see and we will do our best to ensure we have a crash-free society,’’ Biu told NAN.

“Injured victims were taken to a nearby hospital in Kwali in the FCT and one identified male corpse was deposited at the mortuary at Kwali General Hospital,’’ he said.

Biu cautioned road users to always avoid excessive speeding, wrongful overtaking, among other traffic.