16 persons feared dead in Edo Trailer, car crash

Tragedy on Thursday evening struck around Abudu River Head Bridge in Edo State following a Trailer load of fuel’s explosion which left no fewer than sixteen persons feared

roasted, while several other persons scampered for safety.

Eyewitness Iyobosa Odeh a native of Abudu town, Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State, told our reporter that the trailer tanker was conveying fuel to Benin – City from the Eastern State when it caught fire after crashing into a deep hole that saw it into the bush where it exploded.

It was gathered that in the cause of the incident, several other vehicles coming behind the trailer tanker also caught fire with six of them completely razed while others with their passengers struggled to escape death. Some of the commercial vehicles drivers who often ply Benin-Asaba Express Road, one of them, Johnbull Nnamdi said “The trailer conveying fuel to Benin City caught fire around the Abudu Bridge after the driver lost control to crash into a deep hole where it crashed into the bush before it caught fire, other vehicle coming behind it also caught fire and passengers in them were all roasted to death” but unconfirmed sources said the tanker during the explosion was gushing out fuel in the process was scooped by some persons within the Abudu Town who got wind of the incident and rushed to the scene.

          As at the time of filing this report, the incident which resulted in serious traffic gridlock around 4pm of on Thursday, was said to have rattled officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) who were on hand to evacuate scores of the victims including the damaged vehicles on the Express way. Investigation revealed that the accident forced motorists from the Eastern states heading towards Benin into one way route as thousands of sympathizers who besieged the scene of the accident were enveloped in tears on the sordid tragedy which occurred barely two weeks to Christmas.

Officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) who did not want their names in the print said “We are doing our best to ensure the safety of others, about 16 persons were affected and were taken to the hospital in Benin City, the trailer tanker caught fire when the driver crashed into a deep hole that threw it into the bush while other vehicles behind it caught fire” A relation of one of the victims, madam Omoyewem Esther said “my brother is among those burnt, he was inside one of the vehicles behind the trailers conveying fuel and the fire burnt him”