A Toyota Hiace 18-seater bus and a Dangote cement truck were involved in a horrific collision on the Edo State part of the Benin-Lagos road today which left no less than eleven people dead and eight others with various injuries.
According to reports, the accident occurred at 11 am at the Ovia bridge, which is known for accidents because of a failing road stretch and the old bridge that spans the river.
The truck, which was traveling at maximum speed from Lagos to Benin, crashed into the bus, which was reportedly slowing down at the failed section of the road, killing 11 people instantly and injuring many others.
An eye witness said, “The Toyota Hiace bus going to the east en route Edo State slowed down at the bad portion of the Ovia river bridge, but the Dangote truck that was on top speed rammed into it, killing some passengers and injuring others.”
It was learned that some of the bus’s passengers and victims were leaving Lagos after taking part in a prominent Lagos-based church programme.
The tragedy was confirmed by Paul Okpe, the Edo State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
He said, “We had a crash on the bridge at Ovia River this morning. A truck ran into a Toyota Hummer Bus and 11 persons lost their lives and eight persons injured. Both the dead and the injured were moved to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital by our ambulances. Three vehicles were involved.
“The truck ran into the Hummer but after narrowly missing a Kia vehicle. The three vehicles are in the police station not far from our office at the Toll Gate.
“For the possible cause, we are leaving that to our Accident Investigations department to establish, but it was the truck that ran into the vehicles and the casualties were in the bus,” he added.
