FRSC official at the scene of an accident
A tragic road accident has claimed the lives of nine people on the Kaltungo–Cham Road in Gombe State, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed.
The crash occurred in the early hours of Monday at Kaluwa community in Kaltungo Local Government Area and involved a trailer and a Sharon bus. The Sector Commander of the FRSC in Gombe State, Samson Kaura, disclosed the details in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Kaura said 18 passengers were involved in the accident, with five sustaining varying degrees of injuries, while four others escaped unhurt.
“The injured victims were rushed to the General Hospital in Kaltungo for treatment, while the corpses of the deceased were deposited at the hospital’s mortuary,” he said.
According to the FRSC commander, preliminary findings point to excessive speed and brake failure as the major causes of the crash, which happened at about 8:33 a.m.
“The trailer was on speed on a sloppy road and as a result lost control and hit the Sharon bus from behind, which led to the bus somersaulting,” Kaura explained.
He stressed that the incident could have been avoided if traffic rules were strictly observed, especially on roads with difficult terrain.
“We have been advising motorists to avoid speed, especially considering the nature of the road, which is sloppy,” he said. “Drivers must drive at a speed they can control to avoid such crashes and loss of lives and property.”
Kaura also urged road users to ensure their vehicles are in good condition before travelling, particularly during the busy yuletide season.
The FRSC said it would continue its sensitisation campaigns to promote safer driving and reduce road crashes across the state. (NAN)
