12 Confirm Dead, 30 Injured in Plateau Road Accident

Twelve persons were on Thursday, were confirmed dead while 30 others sustained injuries in a road mishap involving a trailer at the Hawan-Kibo community in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The accident was said to have occurred when the articulated vehicle loaded with bags of grains and human beings was descending a hill on the bad road when it crashed into a ditch.

According to eyewitnesses, the trailer, which was moving out of Jos, crashed and spilled its contents in the ditch, leaving many of the victims dead on the spot.

Speaking on the incident, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps in Plateau State Command, Mr Godwin Alphonsus, while confirming the accident, described it as a lone crash.

He said: “It was a lone crash. The trailer was carrying bags of grains and human beings ant the same time. It had a brake failure and crashed into a ditch while descending a hill in the afternoon of Thursday.

“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.

“This evening, I learnt that one of the injured victims has also given up, bringing the number of deceased persons to 12.”

The sector commander who appealed to motorists to be extra vigilant while driving, decried a situation whereby vehicles meant to carry loads are loaded with human beings at the same, adding that this should be discouraged at all times.

Alphonsus also cautioned, “We have always told them to avoid carrying human beings with their loads. This is very dangerous and that is why people should avoid entering such vehicles for their safety.”