By Uzair Adam Imam
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kaduna Sector Command, announced that four people have died and 56 others have been injured in a road crash on the Kaduna-Abuja expressway.
Mr. Kabir Nadabo, the Sector Commander, relayed the traumatic incident to journalists, which he said occurred at Sabon Sara village along the expressway on Tuesday.
He said that the tragic accident involved a trailer (Iveco) with registration number MKA99YS, and it occurred at around 03:30 hrs.
“The combined rescue teams of RS1.113 Zhipe and RS1.17 Birnin Yero conducted the rescue,” he said.
According to Nadabo, the initial investigation revealed that the cause of the crash was the overloading of goods and humans, as well as fatigue.
He said, “Further investigation of the incident shows that 73 people were involved in the crash, 59 got injured, and sadly, 4 were deceased.”
He said the injured have been conveyed to St. Gerard and AP Smart Hospitals, all in Kakuri.
“Kaduna State is a critical corridor that links the North to the South; this is why the Kaduna State Command has activated several measures and homegrown initiatives.
”Like the establishment of roadside camps at Kakau and Rigachikun to promptly respond to crashes, the provision of standby ambulances at Jere, Doka, Kakau, Gonin Gora, Rigachikun, Zaria, and Tashar Yari, with experienced staff to handle first aid care.
“Also, the corps in the state will continue to aggressively create awareness and sensitization among road users on general safety ethics.
“For the record, I want to inform the public that henceforth, any driver arrested for overloading of goods and humans will be arraigned before the courts for prosecution for endangering the lives and properties of Nigerians.
“Already, concerted efforts have resulted in the arrest of the trailer driver involved in this crash.
“I wish to emphatically reiterate our resolve in reaching out to stakeholders, particularly transport unions, to preach and sensitise their drivers on the dangers of excessive speeding, overloading, dangerous driving, and using their phones while driving, among others,” he said.