On Thursday, 12 people were reported deceased and 30 others were injured in a truck accident in the Hawan-Kibo town in Plateau State’s Riyom Local Government Area.
According to reports, the articulated vehicle was filled with grain sacks and people and was descending a hill on the deteriorated road when it collapsed into a ditch in the afternoon.
According to eyewitnesses, as the caravan departing Jos overturned, its contents spilled into the ditch, killing several of the victims on the spot.
Mr Godwin Alphonsus, Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps in Plateau State, confirmed the accident to newsm in Jos on Thursday evening.
“It was a solitary crash,” claimed the sector commander. The caravan was transporting grain bundles as well as people. While ascending a slope, it suffered a brake failure and crashed into a ditch. On Thursday afternoon, the accident occurred.
“Since then, our men in Hawan-Kibo have been trying to rescue the victims. From the records so far, 11 persons died on the spot while 30 persons have been rescued and taken to the hospital. Only this evening, I learnt that one of the injured victims has also given up at Gidan Way community bringing the number of the deceased persons to 12.”
The sector commander, who called the collision “unfortunate,” urged motorists to be extra cautious when driving.
He stated that situations in which vehicles designed to carry loads are also filled with people should be avoided at all costs.
“We’ve always warned them to avoid transporting anyone with their loads. This is quite dangerous, and passengers should avoid entering such cars for their own safety,” he said.
