12 persons burnt to death in Bayelsa auto crash
TWELVE persons were, on Wednesday night, burnt to death following an auto crash on the Tombia- Ammassoma Road, Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
While nine persons were burnt to ashes on the spot following an explosion at the scene of the accident, three others died later on arrival at the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital in Okolobiri.
It was gathered that the incident involved a 14- seater bus and a diesel- laden truck reportedly transporting the product to a construction site around Ammassoma area.
The incident occurred at about 8: 00p. m. and eyewitnesses said it might have occurred following excessive speed by commercial road users on that particular route, adding that there were always deadly crashes on that road.
“It was a terrible accident. We couldn’t even stand the sight of such flame. There was no way we could help out when the bus was burning. It was all tears. We could not even assist, and there was no way to recognise any of the victims, as there was no means of identification, because everything in the vehicle was burnt to ashes. “The bus and diesel tanker collided and the bus burst into flames, with everybody in the bus trapped and burnt beyond recognition except for three survivors. The three survivors later gave up the ghost at the hospital,” an eyewitness told newsmen. Officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC) confirmed the incident, saying that the burnt passengers were unrecognised and couldn’t immediately be identified. “When we arrived at the scene at about 10: 00p. m., there was nothing we could do,” the officials said.
The FRSC confirmed that preliminary investigation showed that it was overspeeding on the part of the diesel truck. “We believe the truck driver removed the plate number and escaped from the scene of the accident, but the passenger bus plate number is VA6243.” Also speaking, the spokesman of the Bayelsa State Police Command, Asinim Butswat, confirmed the incident and said the scene was gory and horrible.