At least 12 persons have been confirmed dead with 30 others said to have sustained varying degrees of injuries in a ghastly road accident involving a truck in Hawan-Kibo community of Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State.
Reports say that the accident which occurred on Thursday December 14th 2023 involved a truck laden with bags of grains and people was descending a hill on the dilapidated road when it eventually nosedived into a ditch.
According to eyewitnesses, when the trailer crashed, it spilled its contents into a ditch, leaving many of the persons dead on the spot.
Confirming the incident, Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps in Plateau State, Mr Godwin Alphonsus said that it was a lone crash.
He stated that the trailer was carrying bags of grains and human beings and had a brake failure and crashed into a ditch while ascending a hill.
While discouraging drivers from transporting human beings in vehicles meant to be carrying loads, the sector commander maintained that men of the FRSC in Hawan-Kibo have been trying to rescue the victims.
He said that from the records so far, 11 persons died on the spot while 30 persons have been rescued and taken to a health facility adding that one of the injured victims has also given up at Gidan Way community bringing the number of the deceased persons to 12.
Alphonsus described the accident as unfortunate as he appealed to motorists to be extra vigilant while driving.
“We have always told them to avoid carrying human beings with their loads. This is very dangerous and that is why people should avoid entering such vehicles for their own safety,” he added.
