14 burnt, 13 injured in Kogi fatal auto-crash

By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.

FOURTEEN persons have been burnt beyond recognition in a fatal auto crash on Ejule-Otukpa Branch highway at Alloma, Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The accident which occured Sunday precisely on a sharp bend at Government Day Science Secondary School, Alloma, involved two Toyota buses, one Hiace and a Sienna in a head-on collision.

The Toyota Hiace bus belonging to Apa Local Government of Benue State was said have a full load of 17 passengers from Abuja while the Sienna bus from Port-Harcourt enroute to Abuja.

Imam Ibrahim who was among sympathisers who rushed to the scene told newsmen that one of the buses was trying to overtake at the bend unaware of another vehicle coming from the opposite direction.

In the head-on collision that ensured, the Toyota Hiace bus exploded and caught fire and

Only three passengers who were miraculously flung out of the vehicle escaped death by whiskers as the rest were burnt to death beyond recognition.

The charred remains of the Hiace bus driver who was burnt sitting on his seat and 13 others could only be accessed on Sunday morning as efforts to put out the fire by the locals failed.

Imam hinted that passengers in the Sienna bus were however, lucky as the vehicle was flung away from the Hiace after the powerful impact.

The driver’s legs were however trapped by the squeezed engine parts of the Sienna and it took three hours for the locals to butcher the vehicle and release his mangled limbs.

The Sienna passengers were seriously injured and rushed to the hospital along with the driver who lost both limbs but there was no case of death.

He said, “None of the 10 occupants of the Sienna Bus died but were seriously injured and are receiving treatment in the hospital.

“We quickly rushed to the scene of the accident to rescue the victims but we could not go near the Hiace bus because of the fire but were able to rescue the injured and butchered the Sienna to remove the driver”, he said.

The Sienna passengers were seriously injured and rushed to the hospital along with the driver who lost both limbs but there was no case of death.

Kogi Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC ), Mr Samuel Oyedeji, confirmed the incident but said that he was yet to get details of the accident.

“I’m yet to be briefed by the Unit Commander in that axis of the true picture of the accident”, he said. (Ends)