Tragedy struck in Niger State on Wednesday night as no fewer than 34 traders were reported dead in an auto crash at Gadan Kuiwo, along Rijau-Kontagora Road in Mariga Local Government Area.
Our Correspondent gathered that a trailer conveying cattles from Gadan Zaimari in Zamfara State, with 78 traders, was heading to Lagos when it had a head on collision with an oil tanker on the bridge at about 11pm, which caused the trailer to tumble and fall off the bridge.
The Federal Road Safety Commission Unit Commander in Kontagora, Pius Bagoohlepeng, told our correspondent in a telephone interview that the driver of the trailer was on a very high speed before the crash on a single lane bridge.
According to Bagoohlepeng: “No fewer than 34 traders died in the crash, with most of them dying on the spot due to severe injuries they sustained after the trailer fell into the river bed.
“Thirty others who survived were rushed to hospitals in Kontagora, with all the cattle drowned to death.”
He said most of the corpses had been collected by their relatives for burial and that the injured victims were responding to treatment at both public and private health facilities within Kontagora town.
The Niger state Police Public Relations Officer, Richard Oguche, also confirmed the story.
Oguche enjoined motorists to exercise caution and care while driving, especially on the road, which is under reconstruction.
Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.
Follow The Eagle Online Channel on WhatsApp
