19 Dead, 8 Injured In Abuja Auto Crash

19 persons have been reported dead and eight others injured in an auto crash at Yangoji-Gwagwalada Road, Abuja, on Sunday.

This was confirmed by Dauda Biu, acting corps marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps on his visit to the scene of the crash.

Mr Biu said the crash occurred minutes into Sunday and involved three vehicles – two Toyota Hiace buses with registration numbers MUB- 30 LG and DWR-985 XJ and an articulated vehicle.

“Out of the 31 victims, eight persons comprising of seven males and one female sustained various degrees of injuries, while 19 others were burnt beyond recognition.

“Investigation showed that the main causes of the crash were speed limit violation and wrongful overtaking, which eventually resulted in the loss of control,’’ he said.

According to him, the Toyota Hiace bus with Registration Number MUB- 30 LG crashed into the Citroen articulated vehicle and burst into flames, killing everyone on board.

“The second bus hit the first bus from behind and also caught fire. The fire melted the second bus with the Bauchi State number plate.

“It was coming from Takai, Kano State, while heading to Benin. The Citroen vehicle loaded chicken feeds from Zaria in Kaduna State and was heading to Akwa Ibom.

“The nineteen corpses were trapped but extricated by rescue operatives,’’ Mr Biu said.