No fewer than eight persons, including a 400-level student of Federal University Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA), Ibrahim Danbaba, and four children, lost their lives while 17 others sustained varying degrees of injuries in a fatal road traffic crash along the Funtua–Katsina highway in Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The crash occurred at about 1:32 p.m. on Sunday at Layin Kukah along the Funtua–Katsina route, according to the Katsina State Sector Command of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
The Public Education Officer of the Command, DRC Shamsudeen Babajo, who confirmed the incident in a statement issued to journalists, urged motorists to avoid dangerous overtaking and always adhere to traffic regulations to prevent avoidable road crashes.
He explained that the accident involved a Toyota Hiace commercial bus with registration number 14B 92 TR and a Bajaj commercial tricycle, which had no registration number.
A total of 25 persons were involved in the crash, comprising 16 adult males, four adult females, two male children and three female children. Of the number, 17 victims suffered various injuries, including fractures and deep lacerations. The injured comprised 15 adult males and two adult females.
The Corps said eight persons died in the crash, including two adult males, two adult females, three female children and one male child. No occupant escaped the accident unhurt.
According to the FRSC, information about the crash was received at 1:34 p.m., while its rescue team arrived at the scene at about 2:04 p.m., recording a response time of 30 minutes.
Preliminary investigations identified wrongful overtaking as the probable cause of the crash. The identities of the drivers involved could not be immediately established.
The FRSC rescue team, in collaboration with the Community Watch Corps (C-Watch), evacuated the victims from the scene.
The injured were taken to Bakori Comprehensive Hospital for treatment, while the bodies of the deceased were initially deposited at the same facility before being transferred to the General Hospital in Funtua local government area of the State.
