15 passengers were chocked to death in a ghastly autocrash involving a J-5 Boxer Bus and a Petroleum Tanker at Koton-Karfe area of Lokoja-Abuja highway in Kogi State around 7.30am on Tuesday.
Five people were also injured in the accident and were rushed to Ideal Hospital at Koton-Karfe for immediate medical attention.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) confirmed the crash.
Kogi FRSC Sector Commander, Stephen Dawulung, who confirmed the incident, said that corpses of the victims have been deposited at the Morgue of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Lokoja.
The sector commander explained that the cause of the crash was due to sheer violation of traffic rules by the bus driver, who was driving against traffic while heading to Abuja from Lokoja.
“The bus driver left his lane and was driving in the opposite direction on high speed only to have a head on collision with an on coming petroleum tanker.
“Thank God the tanker which was laden with Petroleum product did not go up in flames, which could have been more devastating and worrisome.
“The unfortunate thing is that the bus was conveying iron cramps with 17 passengers, 15 of which were terribly squeezed and chocked to death during the collision.
“It’s sad the prevalent disabuse if traffic rules and regulations by motorists and commuters. Vehicles meant for Goods should strictly Carry only goods and not passengers as in this unfortunate case,” Dawulung lamented
The FRSC Commander, however, commiserated with the families of the victims and advised motorists to always adhere to traffic rules and regulations to avoid unwanted auto crash. (NAN)
