Pregnant woman, four other persons reportedly killed as 18–seater bus rams into market
Pregnant woman, four other persons reportedly killed as 18–seater bus rams into market
A devastating accident in Yobe State has claimed the lives of five people, including a pregnant woman, after an 18-seater Toyota Hiace bus crashed into the crowded Damagum market.
The crash, which occurred on Sunday evening as pedestrians were leaving the market, also left 19 others injured.
According to Livinus Yilzoom, Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Yobe, the tragic incident unfolded when the driver, attempting to avoid pedestrians, lost control of the vehicle due to high speed.
“The five fatalities were not occupants of the bus; they were pedestrians standing by the roadside waiting to cross when the vehicle veered off course,” Yilzoom explained.
Emergency responders were quick to act, with the FRSC’s Dogon Kuka Unit Command dispatching a crash investigation team to the scene.
The victims were promptly evacuated and taken to Damagum General Hospital for medical treatment.
Initial investigations into the crash indicate that speed limit violations and the driver’s loss of control were the main factors behind the deadly accident.
Eyewitnesses have raised concerns about the increasing presence of markets along highways, particularly on market days, suggesting that these locations are contributing to the rise in accidents.
