No fewer than 12 persons were killed and three others injured on Sunday after a truck rammed into bystanders at Gada-Biyu village along the Abuja–Lokoja Highway.

Federal Capital Territory Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Felix Theman, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview on Sunday evening.

Theman said the crash, which occurred at about 11:47 a.m., involved three vehicles—an 18-seater Sharon bus and two Volkswagen Golf cars—in addition to the truck.

According to him, the truck, which was fully loaded with coal and coming from the Lokoja axis at high speed, lost control and veered off the road, crashing into bystanders who were waiting by the roadside.

He said 12 people died on the spot, comprising four adult males, two adult females, four male children and two female children. Some of the victims were said to be residents of Gada-Biyu who were waiting to board vehicles.

Three other persons sustained varying degrees of injuries and were rescued to Abaji General Hospital for treatment.

The sector commander said the truck driver and his conductor fled the scene immediately after the incident, apparently to avoid mob action.

He added that the bodies of the deceased had been released to their families for burial at Gada-Biyu.

Theman attributed the accident to speeding, loss of control and dangerous driving by the truck driver.

He disclosed that the FRSC would meet with the management of the transport company involved, noting that this was the second reported crash involving the same truck along the Abuja–Lokoja highway.

The sector commander also said the FRSC had directed its Yangoji Unit Command to ensure that motorists who park by the roadside to pick passengers at Gada-Biyu are relocated to safer locations.

(Daily Trust)