The crash occurred around 11:45am and involved four vehicles: a commercial trailer carrying coal, a commercial bus, and two commercial cars
No fewer than 12 people have died in a multiple-vehicle road accident at Gada Biyu along the Yangoji–Abuja (YGJ–ABJ) corridor on Sunday.
According to SaharaReporters, the crash occurred around 11:45am and involved four vehicles: a commercial trailer carrying coal, a commercial bus, and two commercial cars.
In a statement on Monday, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said preliminary investigations pointed to speed violation and dangerous driving as the likely cause.
Olusegun Ogungbemide, the Assistant Corps Marshal and Corps Public Education Officer, explained that the driver of the coal-laden trailer was travelling at a speed above the legal limit for the corridor.
He reportedly lost control and collided with parked vehicles, triggering the chain crash.
A total of 18 people were involved, including eight adult males, four adult females, two male children, and four female children.
Five victims died instantly at the scene, while seven others who were rushed to hospital later succumbed to their injuries, bringing the death toll to 12.
Three more victims sustained injuries ranging from bruises and cuts to fractures and head injuries and are receiving treatment.
The FRSC said it received a distress call at 11:47am and arrived at the scene seven minutes later.
The injured were taken to Abaji General Hospital, while the deceased were released to their families for burial.
The statement read, “Preliminary investigations revealed that the incident could have been caused by speed violation and dangerous driving, which led to loss of control. The truck driver was driving at an excessive speed beyond the legally prescribed limit, lost control, and crashed into already parked vehicles, triggering the fatal collision.”
Reacting to the crash, FRSC Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed expressed condolences to the families of the deceased, describing the accident as tragic and avoidable.
He warned motorists, especially drivers of heavy-duty vehicles, to obey speed limits and traffic rules, stressing that adherence to road safety regulations is vital to reducing crashes and saving lives.
Mohammed reaffirmed the FRSC’s commitment to enforcement, public enlightenment campaigns, and collaboration with stakeholders to improve highway safety across Nigeria.
Join us on our WhatsApp Platform @KOIKIMEDIA NEWS YOUR PAGE
koikimedia Bringing the World 🌎 Closer to Your Doorstep