The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed that 12 passengers lost their lives in a fatal accident involving a truck and a bus along the Benin-Auchi highway on Saturday. Both vehicles were engulfed in flames following the crash.
Cyril Mathew, Edo sector commander of the FRSC, said the incident occurred around 5 am at Igueoviobo community, near an army checkpoint on the highway.
Matthew noted that the Toyota Hiace bus, which departed Zuba in Abuja en route to Benin, collided with an oncoming truck going to Auchi, causing it to go up in flames.
“The entire occupant of the bus were killed in the crash,” NAN quoted Mathew to have said.
“The accident likely resulted from fatigue, as the driver may have dozed off, leading to the collision.”
He said the FRSC personnel were able to identify the deceased through the vehicle’s manifest and had since contacted their families.
The FRSC boss, who urged drivers to avoid fatigue while on long journeys, added that the truck driver and his assistant escaped unhurt.