On Tuesday, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) confirmed 15 people dead and five others critically injured in an auto crash in Kogi.

The crash followed a collision between a J-5 Boxer bus and a petrol tanker at Koton-Karfe along the Lokoja-Abuja highway around 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

The sector commander in Kogi, Stephen Dawulung, who confirmed the incident, said the injured were rushed to Ideal Hospital at Koton-Karfe.

Mr Dawulung said the dead bodies were deposited at the Federal Medical Centre’s morgue in Lokoja.

The FRSC commander revealed that the crash was caused by the bus driver, who drove against traffic while heading to Abuja from Lokoja.

“The bus driver left his lane and was driving in the opposite direction at high speed only to have a head-on collision with an oncoming petroleum tanker. Thank God, the tanker, laden with petroleum product, did not go up in flames, which could have been more devastating and worrisome,” Mr Dawulung explained. “The unfortunate thing is that the bus was conveying iron cramps with 17 passengers, 15 of which were terribly squeezed and choked to death during the collision.”

The FRSC official added, “It’s sad the prevalent abuse of traffic rules and regulations by motorists and commuters. Vehicles meant for goods should strictly carry only goods and not passengers, as in this unfortunate case.” 

(NAN)