Four persons, including a commercial bus driver have been killed in an auto crash on Siluko road, in the Egor Local Government Area of Edo State.
It was learnt that the driver, identified as Victor, and the other victims died on the spot in the incident which occurred at about 8pm around the Oliha market.
But the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Johnson Kokumo, who confirmed the fatal accident, said that only one life was lost while those who sustained varying degrees of injuries were taken to a hospital.
“It was only one person that died,” Kokumo said.
It was gathered that the bus, a Toyota Vanette, with registration number AYB 549 XP, was conveying passengers from the Ring road axis when it rammed into a stationary truck.
A source in the area said that the truck, marked BEN 677 ZN, had developed a fault when it was cleared by a traffic light to move but was not sighted by the bus driver during a heavy rain.
The source stated, “It was about 6pm (on Monday) when the truck stopped at the traffic light. When it was supposed to move, it developed a fault and the driver came out and placed caution signs in the front and behind the truck.
“I left for home before the accident. But seeing the impact of the accident later, it is very obvious that the bus driver, who was in top speed while it was raining, rammed into the the stationary truck.”
However, the accident later led to a protest on Tuesday morning by some commercial drivers and youths who were angered by the death of the occupants of the bus.
The development also left commuters stranded as vehicular movement and commercial activities were temporarily grounded.
One of the drivers, Osamudiame Ehigiator, who spoke to journalists, lamented that the faulty vehicle was left unattended, adding that the accident could have been averted if the truck had been removed.
Another driver, Ikpomwosa Omosefe, said, “This tipper developed a fault here since yesterday afternoon (Monday). When it rains, we drivers hardly see clearly while driving.
“I believe that the boy (deceased driver) thought that the lorry was in motion and that was what led to the accident.”
However, Kokumo explained, “The true position is that there was a stationary vehicle on the said road and the vehicle went bad. A bus conveying passengers rammed into the stationary vehicle from the rear.
“The driver of the bus died on the spot and that was the only death recorded so far. Others who sustained injuries were quickly taken to a hospital and are currently responding to treatment.”