File: FRSC officials rescue an accident victim

Jethro Ibileke/Benin

A fatal road accident that occured on Sunday on the Benin-Abuja highway, by Jattu Junction, Auchi, Etsako West local government area of Edo state, have reportedly claimed five lives.

It was also reported that six other persons also sustainned varying degrees of injuries in the accident that occurred at about 11am.

It was gathered that a cement-laden truck that was heading toward Benin from Abuja end of the road, lost control and rammed into several vehicles held by traffic at the junction.

Edo State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Anthony Oko, who confirmed the accident, described it as a mutipple accident.

He however blamed it on to tyre burst.

“The truck coming towards Benin had a tyre burst and in the process, lost control and rammed into the vehicles (held by traffic) from behind.

“Fifteen people were involved in in the accident, five died while six sustained various degrees of injuries. Seven vehicles were involved in the accident,” he said.

Oko disclosed that the dead victims were taken to the morgue, while those injured were taken to an undisclosed hospital for treatment.