21st September, 2021
By Jethro Ibileke/Benin
An early morning fatal crash on Tuesday in Benin, Edo State capital, has left at least four persons dead, with many injured.
The unfortunate incident occurred along Sakponba Road, by Ogbelaka Junction, between a tipper loaded with sharp sand and two Toyota Vernet buses.
It was gathered that the tipper was trying to overtake another tipper when it lost control and rammed into the two oncoming mini buses conveying passengers from the Ring Road axis to the Upper Sokponba area.
The State Police’s image maker, SP Kontongs Bello, confirmed four casualties, and several others sustaining various degrees of injuries, and were now receiving treatment at various health facilities.
Bello also confirmed that the driver of the tipper has been arrested.
Some eyewitnesses, however, faulted the claim by the police, insisting that no fewer than nine passengers from the two buses died on the spot.
Men of the Edo State Police Command and the State Vigilante group were seen at the scene of the crash trying to restore normalcy to the area.
It was gathered that the remains of the dead persons have been deposited at the mortuary, while other survivors with severe injuries were in the Intensive Care Unit of the Edo Specialist Hospital in Benin City.
Passers-by and concerned residents gathered to help the victims.
The incident caused a traffic logjam, with many commuters going to their respective places of work stranded, while others resorted to trekking to their various destinations.