From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
Six passengers at the weekend lost their lives in a fatal road accident involving an 18-seater Benue Links bus and a truck allegedly belonging to CHEC Construction Company in Otukpo.
The accident, which occurred at about 4pm near the moribund Benue Burnt Bricks factory, also left 12 other passengers including a 7 month old infant sustain varying degrees of injuries.
An eyewitness said the ill-fated bus was conveying passengers from Makurdi to Otukpo and had almost reached its destination when the crash occurred, less than three kilometres into Otukpo town.
He disclosed that five of the passengers died instantly at the scene of the accident, while another victim later succumbed to injuries at the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital, Otukpo (FUHSTHO), where the injured were rushed for medical attention.
“It is really unfortunate that the passengers were already in Otukpo and heading into town when the truck ran into the bus on the dusty road due to the ongoing construction work.
“There was poor visibility because of the dust. The driver of the truck probably did not see the bus approaching and rammed into it. Five passengers died on the spot while another later died at the hospital,” he added.
According to him, 12 surviving passengers, including a seven-month-old infant, sustained various injuries.
A source at the hospital who also disclosed that the victims were promptly admitted and are currently receiving treatment said “under the guidance of the medical team, the patients are receiving treatment and are responding positively to care.”
Confirming the development, the Public Relations Officer of Benue Links, Mr. Johnson Ehi, said the company had taken responsibility for the treatment of the injured passengers.
“The casualty figure is six, they are five males and one female. The bus was an 18-seater, it was travelling from Makurdi to Otukpo when the truck ran into it.
“The remaining 12 passengers are responding to treatment. We have taken over their medical bills at the FUHSTHO.”
Efforts to reach the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Udeme Edet, for comments were unsuccessful.
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