No fewer than four people were feared dead and several others seriously injured in a fatal accident on Wednesday on Otaru/Polytechnic Road in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo.
A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent who visited the scene of the accident, reports that several vehicles and motorcycles were also destroyed in the mishap.
An eyewitness, Mr Sunday Abu, told NAN that the accident occurred at 11.00 a.m. when an articulated vehicle carrying bags of cement lost control and rammed on vehicles and motorcycles.
Abu said that the driver of the vehicle fled from the scene for fear of being lynched.
“The articulated vehicle initially failed brake at Otaru palace area, and the driver was told to park.
“The driver insisted that he could embark on the journey, not knowing that a construction work was going on at the Igbo Shade area which made one of the carriage ways to be blocked.
“The articulated vehicle rammed on other moving vehicles and motorcycles, killing some occupants with several others injured and vehicles damaged,” Abu said.
The President of Red Cross Society of Nigeria, Auchi Branch, Mr Jedaiah Oshioke, and other members were on ground to carryout a rescue operation.
He said that four people died from the accident and several injuries recorded.
Oshioke said that the dead bodies had been deposited at a morgue in Auchi while the injured were receiving treatment at the Faith Foundation Hospital and Auchi General Hospital.
He consoled with the families of the deceased, and advised drivers of articulated vehicles to ensure proper maintenance of the vehicles and avoid dangerous driving.