Eight passengers have been burnt to death following ignited fire from vehicles in a fatal road accident that occurred at Agbede community, along the Benin-Auchi road, Etsako West Local Government Area.
Penpushing reports that Edo State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Cyril Mathew, confirmed the sad incident on Monday, explaining that eyewitness accounts said the accident happened on Sunday.
The Sector Commander added that the eyewitness accounts said a truck descending the Ewu Hill from Benin towards Auchi experienced a brake failure and crashed into several vehicles trapped in traffic.
Penpushing further reports that he stated that the crash involved four vehicles, including two tankers carrying diesel and petroleum products, adding that the impact reportedly ignited a fire, engulfing the vehicles and resulting in multiple casualties.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) boss said based on reports from witnesses, one of the tankers lost its brakes while descending the hill and rammed into other vehicles, sparking a fire and two people died on the spot, while four others were rushed to the hospital.
Penpushing also reports that Mathew stated that after the fire was extinguished, emergency responders recovered seven bodies, which included the two that died on Sunday, explaining that one of the injured victims succumbed to his injuries on Monday morning, bringing the total death toll to eight.
“Eyewitnesses recounted how the truck driver and his assistant shouted, “No brake! No brake!” before crashing into two other vehicles caught in the traffic. The victims were reportedly trapped in the congestion and they were not involved in any illegal fuel scooping’, he said.
Penpushing further reports that the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) commander commended his personnel and local residents for their swift response, which helped prevent further casualties.
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