From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
A fatal accident that occurred in Irepene on Abuja-Lokoja highway in Kogi State at about 5am Tuesday has claimed Seventeen lives.
The accident happened when a luxurious bus with many passengers heading towards Auchi rammed into a Toyota Hiase coming from the opposite direction after the driver lost control.
The impact of the luxury bus had pushed the Hiace off the road into the bush where it somersaulted several times.
It was learnt that 15 persons died on the spot while two others who sustained different degrees of injuries died after being taken to the hospital.
The Kogi State Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corp, (FRSC), Solomon Agure, confirmed the incident.
“The Toyota Hiace was travelling to Auchi, Edo State while the luxury bus was coming from Okene axis.
“The Luxury [bus] overtook a car and lost control.
“Of course it was night, so it collided with the oncoming smaller Toyota bus pushing it into the bush.
“The vehicle somersaulted, and 15 people died on the spot and two later died in the hospital.”
He, however, advised motorists to reduce their speed, avoid night travel and always plan their journey, stressing that, while travelling, they should avoid dangerous overtaking.
“It is very important for motorists to obey the speed limit which is 90 with commercial vehicles and 100 with private vehicles,” he stated.
Agure said the command had deployed no fewer than 522 personnel to ensure free flow of traffic during this yuletide season.
The sector commander further hinted that more officers were expected from neighbouring Ekiti and Kwara States to support the command for a hitch Yuletide.
