TheCable

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kaduna Sector Command, says four persons have died and 56 were injured in a road accident on the Kaduna-Abuja expressway.

Kabir Nadabo, the sector commander, said the crash happened at Sabon Sara village at around 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday along the expressway.

According to Nadabo, the lone accident involved a trailer (Iveco) with registration number MKA 99YS.

He attributed the accident to the overloading of goods and humans as well as fatigue by the trailer.

“The combined rescue teams of RS1.113 Zhipe and RS1.17 Birnin Yero conducted the rescue,” NAN quoted Nadabo as saying.

“Further investigation of the incident shows that 73 people were involved in the crash, 59 got injured, and sadly, 4 were deceased.”

Nadabo said the injured were taken to St. Gerard and AP Smart Hospitals for treatment.

The crash comes two weeks after an accident claimed the lives of 16 persons and injured another 27 along the Kaduna-Abuja expressway.

Nadabo said the frequent road traffic crashes were due to the yuletide season which “is the most travelled period of the year”.

“Kaduna state is a critical corridor that links the North to the South, this is why the Kaduna State Command has activated several measures and homegrown initiatives,” he said.

“Like the establishment of roadside camps at Kakau and Rigachikun to promptly respond to crashes, the provision of standby ambulances at Jere, Doka, Kakau, Gonin Gora, Rigachikun, Zaria and Tashar Yari, with experienced staff to handle first aid care.

“Also, the corps in the state will continue to aggressively create awareness and sensitisation to road users on general safety ethics.”

The sector commander warned that the FRSC would arraign drivers arrested for overloading for prosecution.

He added that the driver of the trailer involved in Tuesday’s crash has already been arrested.