Road accident claims 5 lives in Bayelsa

Five persons have died in Yenagoa following a ghastly motor accident at the LNG junction, Tombia-Amassoma road of Bayelsa.

The accident caused gridlock along the road leading to the state-owned Niger Delta University (NDU) and the Bayelsa International Airport.

Confirming the accident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday, the Spokesman for Bayelsa Police Command, SP Asinim Butswat, said the accident occurred on Thursday at about 4:40 pm.

He added that it involved a Toyota Venza with Reg. N0. KMK 617 BY and two Tricycles with Reg. No. NSK 073 QH and LND 223 QH.

He said: “Five corpses were evacuated from the scene and three of them have been identified.

“The other two corpses are a middle-aged male and a female.“One of the victims has also been identified as a staff of the popular hangout in Yenagoa, Asters and a student of the State-owned Niger Delta University Amassoma,” he said.

Butswat also told NAN that police operatives were on the trail of one Augusta Nyoun, who drove the Toyota Venza that allegedly caused the accident and absconded from the scene.

“The police have launched a manhunt for the accused female who drove the Venza for possible culpable homicide.

“An investigation is ongoing to arrest the fleeing woman. The sketch marks of the scene of the accident have been taken and investigation is ongoing,” he said.

Also, an official of the Federal Road Safety Corps in the Bayelsa, Sector Command, Mr Soroh Tonye, who also confirmed the number of causalities to NAN correspondent, said that four persons died on the spot, while another victim died on the way to the hospital.

Tonye also attributed the probable cause to be speeding during rainfall.

NAN also gathered that other victims of the accident are currently receiving treatment at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital in Okolobiri.