Tide Reporter, 14 Others Cheat Death

Tragedy was averted in the ever busy East -West Road at the Ahoada axis in Rivers State when 15 passengers, including a reporter with The Tide group of Newspapers, Mr Osila King travelling in a Combi bus cheated death.

However, most of the passengers sustained serious injuries with four at critical stage at Karina Clinic and Hospital, Ahoada, where they were rushed to by officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission ( FRSC).

According to an  official of FRSC, who chose to be anonymous, the Combi bus after loading at Ahoada was speeding to Port Harcourt  when the driver attempted to avoid a head on collision with another vehicle in opposite direction, and suddenly applied brake which forced the car to summersaul several times.

Speaking from his hospital bed, King, who had bruises all over his body, said the incident occurred at about 7.30 am and thanked God for sparing their lives, saying that the quick arrival of the FRSC officials saved those who could have suffocated.

The Medical Director of Karina Clinic and Hospital, Dr Sonni Philip told The Tide that all those brought to his hospital were in a stable condition.

He blamed the accident on impatience of drivers, suggesting that FRSC should concentrate on road traffic education and erring drivers  reprimanded instead of collecting bribes and allowing them  go free.