The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed the death of seven persons and 70 others injured, while 30 were rescued without injuries in a lone accident that occurred in Kano.
A statement by the Corps Public Education Officer, Olusegun Ogungbemide, on Monday said the crash occurred on 8 February, along Hadejia Road at Kwanar Danja, in Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State at about 8:33 a.m., involved a commercial DAF trailer with registration number KTG467YG conveying 105 passengers.
“From the total of 105 persons involved, 70 victims, 55 Male adults and 15 Male children, sustained varying degrees of injuries; while 7 adult males were killed. A total of 30 of the victims were rescued by the FRSC emergency rescue team without injuries,” the statement said.
According to the statement, preliminary investigation by the corps attributed the cause of the crash to speed violation which eventually led to loss of control (SPV/LOC).
Reacting to the incident, the Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Shehu Mohammed described speeding as one of the deadliest traffic violations and warned motorists against turning highways into death traps.
He stated amongst others that once a driver exceeds the prescribed speed limit, control is compromised, reaction time is reduced, and the chances of survival in a crash become minimal.
He emphasised that no journey is worth the loss of innocent lives.
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He revealed that the magnitude of casualties recorded in a single crash is a direct manifestation of the devastating consequences of reckless driving, noting that vehicles driven at excessive speed become lethal weapons capable of wiping out entire families in seconds.
He further warned that FRSC will continue to intensify enforcement operations nationwide, stressing that motorists who flout speed regulations will face the full weight of the law without exception.
On the strength of the foregoing, he called on all road users, especially commercial drivers, to obey speed limits, drive responsibly, and prioritise safety over haste.
“The pain of losing loved ones to preventable crashes is a burden no family should bear, as such, road users should note that speed limits are meant to save lives, not to be ignored,” the statement said.
