18 die in Delta auto crashes

About 15 persons lost their lives in an auto crash at Alifikede, near Agbor in Ika South Council of the state, the Delta State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) confirmed on Tuesday, December 29.

Guardian reports that the fatal accident occurred about 2.15 pm, as a luxurious bus ran into a Toyota Sienna car, which was plying one-way lane along the Asaba/Benin expressway.

According to an eyewitness who was on the scene of the crash, five persons died instantly while the others who sustained other forms of injuries died at the hospital

When contacted, Head of Operations of the state command of FRSC, Bakare Fatai Adesina confirmed the accident, saying he was yet to get details, Guardian said.
Meanwhile, three persons, comprising two males and a female, were confirmed dead in another accident at Aboh-Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha South Council Area of Delta State.

The accident involved an empty fuel tanker with registration No: BAU 334 XA and a Delta Line bus marked: XR 185 ENU. An eyewitness said the tanker driver had rammed into the Delta Line bus that was heading to Asaba from Ogwashi-Uku, while the tanker was heading towards Warri, according to Guardian.

He said a Lexus 350 Jeep carelessly overtook the tanker, but in bid to avoid collision with the Jeep, the tanker driver swerved towards the opposite direction, leaving its lane entirely and came face-to-face with the oncoming Delta Line bus.

“In the process, the tanker driver collided with the Delta Line bus, killing the bus driver on the spot. The male passenger on the front seat forcefully opened the door on his side and jumped out, but the tyre of the tanker ran over him, killing him immediately.

“After the accident, the lady, who sustained injuries, was rushed to an undisclosed private hospital, where she was confirmed dead after all efforts to save her life,” the eyewitness said.

He added that the police rescued the tanker driver from being mobbed by angry youths that besieged the scene of the accident, just as the officers removed the truck and the Delta Line bus from the spot at Ogwashi-Uku.

When contacted, the state Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Oneme Onovughagbogaya, confirmed the accident.