A Toyota Pick up patrol vehicle belonging to the Bauchi State Sector of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Friday killed a woman and a child in Alkaleri, the headquarters of Alkaleri Local Government Area of the state, while others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
The driver of the patrol vehicle with the registration number, A01732RS, was said to have lost control and rammed into a shop opposite the Alkaleri Central Motor Park, on the Bauchi-Gombe highway at about 12:45pm.
Confirming the accident, the State Sector Commander, Yusuf Abdullahi, informed that the accident occurred as a result of a sudden health challenge developed by the Corps’ driver, whom he identified as A.D. Mohammed.
He said the health challenge made the driver, who was in the company of three other personnel, ram into some people who were in front of a shop, out of which two died and five others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
The sector commander informed that in all, 14 people, comprising five male adults, five female adults, two male children and two female children were involved in the crash.
He added that apart from the Corps’ patrol vehicle, a Bajaj commercial tricycle, with registration number BSA278VF, as well as and two motorcycles, a Qlink motorcycle: 3.CG125 and a Haojuie motorcycle with registration number AH110, were also involved in the accident.
“Yes, the accident is true. Our personnel were just coming back to the base after the normal routine patrol and suddenly, the driver shouted and switched off on the steering. And that was all, he went off the road completely.
“The patrol vehicle ran into some people who were by a shop in the area and it finally stopped when it hit the shop. Some people in the shop also sustained injuries.”
“Two people, one female adult and a male child were killed in the crash, while five others sustained varying degrees of injuries,” Abdullahi.
While regretting the accident, the Corps Commander said “health challenges can happen to anybody and at any time,” informing that the driver has remained unconscious and is admitted at the Alkaleri General Hospital.
He said people at the scene of the accident performed rescue operations as rushed the injured to the Alkaleri General Hospital for treatment, adding that a doctor confirmed the victims dead.
Abdullahi, however, commiserated with the families of those who died in the unfortunate accident, praying to God to comfort them, while wishing the injured quick recovery.
“On behalf of the Corps, our hearts reach out to the families of those who lost their lives. We pray that Allah will comfort them. We also wish those who are injured a quick recovery,” Abdullahi said.
