7 die, 11 injured in Kaduna car crash

The victims died in Birnin Gwari in Kaduna state

Seven persons were confirmed dead and 11 others injured when two vehicles collided at Dogon Hauwa village, 14 kilometres away from Birnin Gwari in Kaduna State, witnesses and officials said.

Mike Olagunji, the state Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Kaduna that the accident occurred on Sunday at about 11.37 p.m.

Mr Olagunji said five of the victims were burnt beyond recognition, while the other two died from the injuries they sustained during the accident.

The commander said the bodies of the seven victims had been deposited at Birnin Gwari General Hospital, while those who sustained injuries were also treated at the hospital.

Mr Olagunji said the corps was able to trace the relatives of the victims from the passenger manifest recovered from the bus, adding that those affected had been evacuated by their families.

He said the accident involved a Mazda 18-seater bus registered XA 75 BUJ heading to Ilorin from Kaduna and a fuel tanker registered XC 163 KMC going to Kano from Lagos..

He attributed the accident to speed, saying the driver of the bus had rammed into the tanker when he lost control of his vehicle while trying to avoid a pot hole.

The two vehicles instantly caught fire, he added.

The FRSC commander advised road users to always abide by traffic rules, while passengers should endeavour to properly fill the manifest at the point of boarding any commercial vehicle. (NAN)