No fewer than 12 persons have been confirmed dead. In contrast, 14 others sustained varying degrees of injuries in a fatal road accident that occurred at Egono community along the busy Auchi–Ewu–Benin Road in Edo State, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has said.
The spokesperson for the Edo State Command of the FRSC, Patricia Onwochei, who confirmed the incident, attributed the crash to wrongful overtaking.
Onwochei explained that the truck involved in the accident, which was carrying both passengers and goods, was heading towards Benin City when the driver attempted to overtake another vehicle at high speed, lost control, veered off the road, and overturned.
She said the impact of the crash trapped several passengers, resulting in the death of 12 persons, while 14 others sustained injuries and were rushed to nearby medical facilities for treatment.
According to her, one of the deceased victims had already been buried, while the remains of the other 11 victims were deposited at the mortuary of St. Lazarus Hospital.
A source familiar with the incident disclosed that about 37 passengers were involved in the crash, noting that aside from those killed and injured, some occupants escaped unhurt.
The source further alleged that the truck was illegally conveying both goods and passengers at the time of the accident, adding that the vehicle overturned, trapping many of the victims beneath it.
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