Eight die in Niger as reckless driver overtaking vehicle rams into tanker truck

The Niger State Sector of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Wednesday said Eight people lost their lives in a fatal road accident on Monday along the Batati/Lanle to Kutigi road in Lavun Local Government Area of Niger State.

The crash occurred when a Toyota Corolla attempting to overtake another vehicle collided head-on with an oncoming tanker trailer.

The victims, identified as farmers, comprised five men and three women.

Confirming the incident, Niger State Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Sector Commander Kuma Tsukwan attributed the accident to over speeding and loss of control.

“The nature of the crash was multiple and it was fatal. There were two vehicles involved which include a dark blue Toyota Corolla with number plate, ANW243AH heading from Batati to Kutigi and a white truck with no number plate heading from Lagos to Abuja.

He said that the crash occurred around 6pm on Monday and the FRSC RS7.28 Kutigi Unit Command responded when they were alerted about the accident.

He added that the dead victims were taken to the General Hospital Kutigi before they were handed over to their relatives for burial.

TheAssistant Commander of Road Transport Employee Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) Kutigi branch, Mohammed Sanusi expressed grief over the crash.

“I was shocked when I saw the way the bodies looked in the crushed vehicle, tears run down from my eyes uncontrollably, may God Almighty forgive them their shortcomings.”

He said that the FRSC personnel, Red Cross and the Road Transport Employee Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) assisted in evacuating and retrieving the bodies.

Sanusi said that all the deceased were buried in Dasu village on Tuesday.