The scene of the accident.
Two persons have been burnt beyond recognition, while seven others sustained varying degrees of injuries in a road accident involving a bus, a commercial tricycle popularly known as Keke NAPEP, and a saloon car along Bukuru Express Road in the Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The accident occurred at about 4:20 p.m. on Sunday around Sabon Barki, when the speeding bus reportedly collided with the tricycle and the saloon car, causing the tricycle to catch fire.
According to the Public Relations Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Plateau State Command, Yakubu Longsan, the crash was due to overspeeding and reckless driving.
Longsan told Channels Television in a telephone interview that two victims died at the scene after being trapped in the burning tricycle, while seven injured persons were taken to the Porter’s Orthopaedic Hospital, opposite the Air Force Girls Military School in Jos, for treatment.
He said that the bus driver fled the scene, but efforts were ongoing to trace him.
An eyewitness, Kefas Gyang, said the victims were reportedly returning from church when the accident occurred.
“I was passing by on my way from work when I saw people crying, and I went closer to find out what had happened and saw people trying to rescue the victims,” Gyang said.
“But the fire was too much for us to handle. It was beyond our strength, and we could not do much to rescue them from the burning tricycle,” he added.
Gyang, however, clarified that he did not witness the actual collision, explaining that he arrived at the scene after the crash and saw people attempting to rescue the victims.
Meanwhile, the FRSC spokesman urged motorists to avoid overspeeding and reckless driving. He also advised passengers to caution drivers and riders whenever they notice dangerous driving.
