Road Accident Scene
A multiple car accident involving nine vehicles have left no fewer than 10 persons dead, and several others injured at the Nyanya axis of the Abuja–Keffi expressway.
The accident was said to have been caused by brake failure on the part of a Tipper driver who was going to offload gravel stone at a building site in Nyanya area of Nasarawa state.
An eyewitness and resident of Karu community, Mr Terhumba Yaji, said the accident was due to brake failure also attributed the accident to indiscretion of a water-seller who was among the injured.
“One man, who sells water in jerry cans (Mairuwa), was heading towards Nyanya from Karu with his hand-pushed truck via a pedestrian path.
“When he got to where the accident occurred, he left the pedestrian path and mounted the vehicle route. Unknown to him, a motorcyclist was coming from behind along the same lane. The motorcyclist tried to dodge him and entered into the front of the Tipper loaded with gravel stones.
“The brakes of the Tipper driver couldn’t hold so he hit the motorcyclist and the man hawking water in jerry cans. Even after hitting them, the tipper driver couldn’t stop giving the impression that his brakes had failed.
“It was in the process of trying to stop the tipper that other vehicles got involved in the accident. However, it was apparent that some motorists, who got caught-up in the crash, didn’t know what to do when it was clear that the Tipper driver’s brakes had failed,” he said.
Our correspondent gathered that the motorcyclist and the water hawker didn’t die but suffered multiple fractures on their legs. However, the driver of a commercial vehicle with Registration Number Nasarawa KRV 512 ZN and his four passengers which included a soldier died on the spot.
It was also gathered that another delivery truck, loaded with soft drinks, was also involved in the multiple accidents. The soft-drink carrying truck fell on its side and caused the death of another five persons.
At the scene of the accident, which occurred about a 100 metres after the Karu bridge on Abuja-Keffi Expressway, a combined team of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) and men of Nigeria Police Force, had carried out rescue operation
A police officer at the scene, who spoke under anonymity, also attributed the accident to brake failure.
“From what we heard, it was brake failure. The tipper couldn’t help hitting the motorcyclist and the Mairuwa.
“The vehicles coming from behind the tipper did not know what to do. They were panicky and we can’t separate it from the fact that some of them were on top speed. They were speeding, so they couldn’t apply their brakes on time.
“Seven vehicles were involved, comprising two trucks and five small cars. Ten people were dead on the spot and several others were injured and rushed to the hospital.”
Eyewitnesses told our correspondent that all the victims of the accident were initially rushed to Asokoro District Hospital. When DAILY POST got to the hospital, it was learnt that lifeless ones were confirmed dead and their corpse deposited at the hospital’s morgue.
But the injured, DAILY POST further learnt, could not be treated because fumigation activities were on-going at the Asokoro District Hospital. However, they were referred to four other general hospitals in the FCT namely; Wuse, Nyanya, Maitama, and Gwagwalada.
The Head, Public Education, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Mr. Bisi Kazeem also confirmed the incident through a text message .
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