At least 14 people were feared dead today in an auto crash on the Benin-Okene Highway.
The accident, which occurred around the Ewu slope in Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State, involved a 15-seater Toyota Hiace bus belonging to Edo City Transport Service and an articulated vehicle.
The truck, which was said to be coming from Abuja, ran over the bus, resulting in the death of all passengers on board.
Eyewitnesses said that the incident occurred when the brake of the articulated vehicle failed.
“The truck lost brake and ran over the Toyota bus coming from the opposite side, killed the 13 passengers and the driver,” a man who witnessed the incident said.
Officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps and the Red Cross evacuated the corpses to Irrua Specialist Hospital in Edo State.
Mike Odiahi, the Chairman, Edo Central branch of the Nigeria Red Cross Society, who was at the scene, confirmed the incident to newsmen.
“Fourteen dead bodies have been recovered and they have been taken to the mortuary at Irrua Specialist Hospital,” Odiahi said.
Odiahi lamented over the frequent accidents around the Ewu slope and advised road safety officials to ensure regular patrol in the area to prevent further accidents.
