The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), on Monday, said five persons died while 13 others were injured in a lone crash involving a truck on the Billiri-Gombe Road in Gombe State.

The FRSC sector commander in Gombe State, Samson Kaura, confirmed this in Gombe on Monday.

Mr Kaura said the crash occurred at 7:20 a.m. on Monday at Tashan Gona in Billiri town of the Billiri Local Government Area of Gombe State.

According to him, 18 persons were involved in the crash, comprising eight male adults and 10 female adults.

He said out of the 18, five, comprising two male adults and three female adults, were killed, while 10 female adults and three male adults sustained fractures and open wounds.

Mr Kaura said the bodies of the deceased were taken to the General Hospital in Billiri, while the injured victims were taken to the General Hospital, Amana; Lafiya Clinic, Billiri; and Gombe Specialist Hospital, respectively, for medical attention.

He said the cause of the crash was speed violations and urged motorists to always maintain the 30 km/h speed limit in built-up areas to reduce the impact of crashes and casualties.

Mr Kaura said the truck driver had been apprehended by the personnel of the Police in the Billiri Division for prosecution.

Buhari Abdullahi, the police public relations officer in Gombe State, confirmed the crash.

Mr Abdullahi said the crash created tension in Billiri, but with the quick intervention of security personnel, the situation was brought under control.

He said the truck hit some persons who were part of the last batch coming from the Easter prayer ground to their various locations.

He said the truck, which he said was loaded with grains, was immediately set ablaze by residents of the area, and an attempt was made to kill the driver, but for the swift intervention of the police.

“For now, everything is calm and motorists are now plying the route, and there is no cause for panic,” he said.

(NAN)