From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
A heavy duty truck has reportedly crashed into a residential building in Okete community of Ohimini Local Government Area, Benue State killing 14 persons.
A local from the area said the truck with registration number, Kaduna, DKA 738 XB crashed into a building in the early hours of yesterday, at about 5am when most of the victims were still in bed.
It was said while nine persons died on the spot, by evening, the death toll rose to 14 after five of the victims who were rushed to the hospital died.
The victims include three Muslims who were observing their early morning prayers by the road side.
He said the truck was heading towards Abuja through the Otukpo-Oweto Road when it veered off the road after the driver lost control.
“The suspicion is that the brakes of the vehicle failed and the driver lost control and ran into the house where some of the victims were sleeping.
“Six of them were killed instantly in the building the vehicle ran into while three Muslims who were observing their morning prayers by the road side at the time also lost their lives.
“Several persons also sustained injuries and the badly injured were rushed to the hospital for treatment but unfortunately five of them did not survive it. So the number of the dead rose to 14 and we pray it does not rise beyond that.
“When the incident happened, the people of the community who were woken from sleep by the loud bang managed to rescue who they could, some of whom were trapped under the truck. Maybe that is why the death toll is not higher than what we have. It is a sad day for the people.
“And as we speak nobody knows the whereabouts of the driver of the truck and his assistant. But we hope the Police will track them.”
The Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Catherine Anene, said the Command had commenced investigation into the cause of the ghastly accident.