8 die in Yobe auto crash
No fewer than eight people lost their lives in a fatal road crash involving a trailer and a Canter truck at Gaba, a community along the Potiskum–Damaturu highway in Yobe State, on Thursday. Eyewitnesses told our correspondent that the accident occurred when the two vehicles collided head-on, allegedly after the Canter truck driver drove against […]
Federal Road Safety Commission
No fewer than eight people lost their lives in a fatal road crash involving a trailer and a Canter truck at Gaba, a community along the Potiskum–Damaturu highway in Yobe State, on Thursday.
Eyewitnesses told our correspondent that the accident occurred when the two vehicles collided head-on, allegedly after the Canter truck driver drove against the traffic.
The impact of the crash was severe, leaving both vehicles badly mangled and trapping several occupants.
Officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Yobe State Command, were immediately mobilised to the scene to carry out rescue operations.
Daily Trust reports that due to the extent of the wreckage, FRSC personnel had to deploy a crane to lift the trailer to access trapped victims.
Eight occupants of the white Howo trailer and white Mitsubishi Canter were reportedly crushed to death on the spot, while other occupants sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Confirming the incident, the Yobe State Sector Commander of FRSC, Mr Andrew Paul Longkam, said the crash involved two vehicles: a white Howo trailer with registration number DAL 963YY and a white Mitsubishi Canter with registration number NNR 437XA.
He disclosed that a total of 12 adult males were involved in the crash, out of which eight people died, while four others were rescued. Of those rescued, three sustained injuries while one was unhurt.
According to him, the injured and deceased victims were evacuated to the General Hospital, Dogon Kuka, where the injured received prompt medical attention.
He added that preliminary investigations indicated that the suspected causes of the crash were excessive speed and route violation, both of which are dangerous driving habits.