The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has blamed driver fatigue for a fatal road traffic crash that claimed the lives of 16 persons along the Okene–Lokoja road in Kogi State.
The lone accident, which involved a Toyota Hiace commercial bus with registration number BUU 17 ZD, occurred at Aku community at about 9:20 a.m. on Friday.
According to the FRSC, the incident was reported at about 9:25 a.m., while rescue operatives from the RS8.34 Zariagi Unit Command arrived at the scene within 15 minutes and immediately commenced rescue operations.
A preliminary investigation by the Corps revealed that the probable cause of the crash was driver fatigue, which led to loss of control of the vehicle.
The Corps disclosed that 22 persons were involved in the crash, comprising 21 male adults and one female adult.
It added that 16 persons — 15 male adults and one female adult — lost their lives in the accident, while six male adults sustained varying degrees of injuries, including bruises and head injuries.
The injured victims were promptly evacuated to Specialist Hospital Lokoja and Osara Hospital for medical treatment, while the bodies of the deceased were deposited at Hankuri Mortuary, Lokoja.
Reacting to the incident, the Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Shehu Mohammed, expressed deep condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured victims speedy recovery.
He also cautioned motorists, particularly commercial drivers, against fatigue-induced driving, excessive speeding and night journeys.
According to the Corps Marshal, drivers should always observe adequate rest periods before embarking on long-distance trips, stressed that fatigue impaired concentration and reaction time, thereby increasing the risk of fatal crashes.
