Tragedy struck in Okene Local Government Area of Kogi State on Monday evening as an articulated truck ascending the Okengwe hill lost control and caused a fatal crash involving multiple vehicles.
The accident, which occurred around 8:30 pm at Old Zango, Okunchi community, involved two tricycles, three cars, and two trucks, leading to the death of six persons and leaving five others seriously injured.
Confirming the incident on Tuesday in Lokoja, the Acting Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Kogi State, Mr. Samuel Ogundayo, described the crash as “tragic and very unfortunate.”
“The accident, which occurred at Old Zango in Okunchi community of Okene around 8:30 pm on Monday, involved seven vehicles,” he said. “The unfortunate incident left six persons dead and five others injured.”
He added that FRSC operatives arrived at the scene promptly and carried out a rescue operation. “Our officers, alongside other security agencies, rushed the injured victims to the Referral Hospital in Okene for medical treatment. The corpses of the deceased were deposited at the mortuary of Onene General Hospital.”
Ogundayo also noted that it took combined efforts from road safety officers and other agencies to ease the resulting traffic gridlock and restore free vehicular movement along the busy route.
The FRSC Commander used the opportunity to advise motorists to maintain safe distances, especially when driving near trucks or in hilly terrain. “We urge all motorists to take necessary precautions when approaching hilly roads and to always give adequate distance to articulated vehicles to avoid disastrous outcomes in the event of brake failure,” he cautioned.
“Compliance with traffic regulations and attentiveness on the road can go a long way in reducing avoidable crashes and saving lives,” he added.
