Gombe: Seven dead, 11 injured in auto crash

Not fewer than seven people (four male adults, two female adults and one female child) have been confirmed dead, while others sustained various injuries in a multiple-vehicle crash along the Gombe-Yola Federal Highway, according to the Gombe State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

Reports have it that the crash involved three vehicles and five motorcycles, including a loaded trailer with registration number FKY 926XA, a Volkswagen car with registration number FKY 692FD and another Volkswagen car with registration number ZAR 371XA. All were used for commercial purposes. The accident occurred at Tashan Magarya Junction in Kumo, the headquarters of Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State, on Thursday, which was market day.

It was reported that the crash occurred when the trailer suffered brake failure, triggering a multiple-vehicle collision that claimed the lives of seven people and left several others severely injured.

According to the FRSC’s incident report, the tragedy occurred along the busy Gombe-Billiri road as the heavy-duty DAF trailer was travelling from Gombe towards Yola when its braking system failed.

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The report stated that 25 people were involved in the crash, comprising 14 male adults, three female adults, three male children and five female children.

Eleven people, comprising four male adults, three female adults and four female children, sustained various injuries and were receiving treatment at the General Hospital, Kumo.

The report further stated that, having lost its stopping power, the out-of-control trailer ploughed through the junction, crushing two Volkswagen Golf cars and smashing five motorcycles in its path.

Amid the chaos, emergency responders rushed to the scene to rescue survivors from the wreckage, while FRSC officials began investigations to ascertain the full extent of the collision, which involved eight vehicles, including the trailer.

Providing further details of the crash, the FRSC said its personnel received a distress call at 5:32 p.m. on Thursday and arrived at the scene two minutes later to commence rescue operations.

The victims were evacuated to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Kumo, for medical attention, while 11 injured persons received first aid. The injured reportedly sustained varying degrees of injuries, including compound fractures, lacerations and bruises.

As the rescue operation wound down, the wreckage was handed over to the Kumo Motor Traffic Division for further investigation.

Meanwhile, the authorities are yet to release the identities of those who died in the accident, while the official conditions of the survivors remain unknown.