Five killed in Bauchi-Jos highway auto crash
The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Bauchi Sector Command, has confirmed that five people were killed in a fatal motor accident 30 kilometers away from Bauchi metropolis along the Bauchi-Jos federal highway in the early hours of Saturday.
The Spokesman of the FRSC, Rilwan Suleiman, who confirmed the accident to journalists, said that the crash occurred when a trailer and a Peugeot 406 car had a head-on collision leading to the death of the five persons, adding that eight people were involved in the accident.
He further stated that the driver of the 406 veered off his lane into the lane of the trailer “despite the fact that the driver of the trailer did all he could to avoid him, but the two vehicles were over speeding. The trailer had a speed mark of almost about 50 to 60 meters before hitting the 406.”
He said: “On Saturday, at about 1.30am, there was a ghastly motor accident about 30 kilometers away from Bauchi town involving a Trailer with Reg. No. FJ 607 MKA white and Blue in Colour and a Peugeot 406 car, Ash in Colour with Reg. No. 406 KRF 13 AA.
“The accident occurred when the 406 which was coming to Bauchi tried to dodge a bad portion of the road but lost control and ran into the trailer which was heading to Jos and they had a head-on collision.
” And as a result, all the occupants of the 406, 2 female adults and 3 male adults, sustained severe injuries. Our men immediately rushed to the scene after receiving the information and rushed them to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi for medical attention. Unfortunately, they were confirmed dead on arrival by a Medical Doctor.”
Suleiman said that because of the impact of the accident, it took them hours before they succeeded in removing the trailer from the Peugeot.
“The trailer crushed the Peugeot and the Peugeot was under the trailer. We had to seek for the services of two cranes and it took us several hours before we were able to separate the two vehicles,” he stated.
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In another development, a student of the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi was on Friday night killed in a motor accident that happened close to the second gate of the school.
This is coming barely ten days after a student of the Bauchi state University and two others on a motorcycle were killed in a similar incident by a reckless driver.
The deceased, whose name was given as Henry Ishaya, was said to be a National Diploma 2 student of the Electrical Electronics department.
According to reports, the student was knocked down by the reckless driver at about 8pm that Friday while returning home from his evening studies.
It was learnt that the incident led to a peaceful protest by students of the institution who barricaded the main road on Saturday, causing serious traffic gridlock as cars were prevented from passing.
It was gathered that the students’ grouse was the recklessness of drivers along the Dass road where the institution is situated, which has led to the killing of many students in the past.
It took the quick intervention of security agencies drafted to the scene and the Rector of the institution, Arc. Sanusi Gumau, who led the management to address the angry students.
The Public Relations Officer of the Polytechnic, Rabiu Wada, confirmed the incident to newsmen.
He said: “One of our students who was returning home from his lectures on a motorcycle was knocked down by a driver. Efforts were made to save his life but he couldn’t make it.
“We rushed him to the Medical Center of the Polytechnic and from there, he was transfered to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, where a doctor confirmed his death.
“The next day (Saturday), some students of the institution came out to protest to express their grievances over the recklessness of motorists on the road around the institution.”
Wada added that “the Management led by the Rector and security agencies addressed the students and pleaded with them,” stating that the management has taken steps to prevent a recurrence.
