FRSC: Six dead, 25 injured in Abuja-Keffi expressway accident

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) says six persons died and 25 others were injured in the accident that occurred at the Karu bridge in Abuja on Wednesday.

A compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered truck laden with cement, was said to have exploded after it rammed into other vehicles in traffic, following brake failure.

Olusegun Ogungbemide, the corps public education officer, said the accident involved 18 vehicles, including two articulated vehicles, two buses, one jeep and 11 cars.

Ogungbemide said the vehicles were severely damaged, with some of them gutted by fire.

He said emergency responders, including the FRSC, Red Cross, fire service, and military arrived at the scene to provide assistance.

The FRSC spokesperson attributed the incident to brake failure which led to multiple crashes.

“The crash occurred at approximately 6:58pm, with the FRSC receiving the report at 7:03pm. More than 35 people were involved,” he said.

“The crash resulted in a tragic multiple vehicle crash, resulting in the loss of six lives and leaving 25 others injured.

“Out of the six lives lost, four were burnt beyond recognition.

“The injured victims were rushed to nearby hospitals for medical attention, while the dead were taken to the mortuary.”

Ogungbemide said Chorrie Muta’a, the sector commander in the FCT, the unit commander in charge of Nyanya and Karu, and other senior officials of the FRSC were at the scene to coordinate rescue efforts.

He added that Shehu Mohammed, corps marshal of the FRSC, also visited the scene to assess the level of damage and commiserate with the victims and their families.

Ogungbemide urged drivers to ensure that their vehicles are in good condition before embarking on any journey, harping on the importance of regular maintenance and safety checks.

“The FRSC has been working tirelessly to reduce road crashes through aggressive sensitisation of passengers and enforcement of traffic laws,” he said.

“The corps has also been collaborating with other agencies to promote road safety awareness and prevent such tragic incidents from occurring in the future.”