The Nation Newspaper

Tag: car crash

  • Three die in car crash at Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge

    Three die in car crash at Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge

    Three persons died in the early hours of Monday, September 23, in an auto crash at the Lekki-Ikoyi link Bridge toll gate, Lagos. 

    The cash occurred around 1:00 am and involved two vehicles with eight occupants.

    Reports indicate that two victims died on the spot, while a third, who was initially rescued alive, succumbed to injuries shortly after the incident. 

    It was gathered that the deceased have been identified, and their bodies have been transferred to the Yaba mortuary. 

    Survivors of the crash, including both drivers, miraculously emerged without any physical injuries. 

    While their passengers lay lifeless, the drivers, whose identities remain undisclosed, walked away unharmed. 

    Junior Popoola Larry, a dispatch rider who assisted in pulling victims from the wreckage, recounted how one of the victims was still alive but tragically stopped breathing after about 10 minutes.

    Lagos state police public relations officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed that police officers arrived shortly after the crash. 

    “The police took the occupants to the hospital, where three were certified dead. The bodies have since been transported to Yaba mortuary for proper handling,” Hundeyin said.

    He further said that one of the drivers, suspected to be at fault, was also taken to the hospital for treatment and has been placed in the custody of his family while the investigation continues.

  • JUST IN: New bride, 12 others die in car crash in Niger

    JUST IN: New bride, 12 others die in car crash in Niger

    Tragedy struck near Lukoro in Edati, Niger state, as a car crash claimed the lives of a newlywed bride, five bridesmaids, her brother-in-law, and six others. 

    The accident, caused by overspeeding and reckless overtaking, occurred on Friday evening when the bride’s vehicle collided with another, resulting in loss of control.

    The Nation learned that 20 people were involved in the accident out of which 13 died and seven others were critically injured.

    The Niger state Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Tsukwan Kumar, who confirmed the accident, said that the crash involved two vehicles which include a ash Toyota Corolla from Mokwa to Bida and a commercial Nissan bus with registration number heading from Minna to Ogbomosho.

    He said that those who died included eight female adults, four male adults, and one male child while four female adults, one male adult, one male child, and one female child were injured.

    Kumar said that the injured victims were taken to the Federal Medical Center (FMC) Bida for medical treatment while nine of the dead victims were handed over to their various relatives at the crash scene upon identification of the bodies and the remaining four dead were taken to General hospital Kutigi mortuary.

    He said: “The vehicles and properties which include five phones, one International passport, one NIN slip, three handbags, two traveling boxes, goods, and other personal effects, belonging to the victims were handed over to the Police Outpost in Wuya. 

  • Fayose injured in Lagos car crash

    Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose was injured yesterday when his G-Wagon Benz with registration number (Lagos) AAA 777 TM was involved in a multiple car crash in Lagos.

    The accident occurred on the popular Third Mainland Bridge inward Iyana Oworo area of Bariga around 1 p.m.

    It was gathered that Fayose had driven the white G-Wagon, which rammed into a broken down commercial bus and a patrol motorcycle parked beside it.

    The accident, it was learnt, also affected a Toyota Avalon with registration number (Lagos) FKJ 643 DR.

    Although no life was lost, it was gathered that shattered glasses penetrated Fayose’s body.

    The Nation learnt that the former governor was administered first aid by the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) on the scene of the accident while all the vehicles were evacuated from the scene.

  • Cross River APC chairman killed in car crash

    The Cross River State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Dr. Mathew Achigbe, was killed in an autocrash along Afikpo Road in Ebonyi State, The Nation gathered yesterday.

    Even though details of the incident could not be immediately ascertained, it was learnt a couple of other people died in the crash with him.

    He was travelling to his hometown in Obubra Local Government Area for a meeting when the accident occurred, it was learnt.

    Official sources were yet to comment on the incident as at press time.

     

  • 80 DAYS AFTER CAR CRASH, VICTOR OLAOTAN STILL IN HOSPITAL

    80 DAYS AFTER CAR CRASH, VICTOR OLAOTAN STILL IN HOSPITAL

    SINCE surviving a ghastly motor accident in the early hours of October 31, 2016, popular Nigerian actor Victor Olaotan is still in hospital.

    Olaotan, who played one of the fun-loving trio in Opa Williams’ latest movie, ‘Three Wise Men’, was returning to a movie set in Festac, Lagos,   when the accident happened around Apple Junction, Festac. He was the only occupant of the car at the time of the accident.

    Olaotan was rushed to a hospital in Surulere where he was place in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and has been there ever since. Though Olaotan was induced into a coma for treatment, he had since come out of it.

    His publicist, Demola Sanyaolu, in a telephone call put to him on Wednesday said that the actor is ‘recovering’ and ‘will be discharged from the hospital soon.’

    But he is not certain of when he will be discharged.

    The actor was notably absent at the premiere of ‘Three Wise Men’ in Lagos, last December.

    The film tells the story of 64-year-old Irikefe (Richard Mofe-Damijo) and his two friends, Timi (Zack Orji) and Tobore (Victor Olaotan), all retirees, who become playboys.

    Produced by Opa Williams and directed by Patience Oghre-Imobhio, the film got funding from Nollyfund, a Bank of Industry (BoI)’s intervention for movies.

    Other cast of the movie are Ebere Okaro, Tina Mba, Thelma Nwosu, Uche Nwaefuna, Akunna Nworgu and Stanley Edirin Isokoh

    Olaotan who started acted in 1959, played Fred Ade-Williams, the lead role in the Nigerian TV drama, Tinsel. He had kick-started his stage career when he represented his school in the play, Gods Are Not To Blame.

    In 1974, Olaotan starred in a soap opera by Laolu Ogunniyi called ‘Candles in The Wind’. Olaotan also worked at NTA Ibadan where he produced Yoruba and English dramas. And in 1981, he accompanied former president Shehu Shagari to the United States to have a meeting with President Ronald Regan.

  • FRSC begins investigation into cause of car crash

    FRSC begins investigation into cause of car crash

    •Corps marshal links accident to tyre burst

    Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Boboye Oyeyemi has ordered investigation into the ghastly crash that killed Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, Chief James Ocholi, his wife and eldest son on Abuja-Kaduna road on Sunday.

    He said the investigation would determine what led to the accident with a view to prevent future occurrences.

    His Head, Media Relations and Strategy, Bisi Kazeem, said the Corps Marshal spoke while addressing reporters yesterday in the aftermath of the accident.

    He commiserated with President Muhamadu Buhari, members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and the Ocholi family on the death of the minister.

    Oyeyemi noted that the death of the minister and two of his family members in the crash was a tragic incident that has challenged FRSC to step up its campaigns against carnage.

    He said he was personally touched and would work with relevant stakeholders to develop appropriate strategies that could address future occurrences.

    “The crash occurred at about 1500hrs and involved two vehicles: one Toyota Lexus LX570 car and a backup car.

    “Three lives were lost in the incident. While the minister and his son died instantly, the wife later died at the Doka Hospital near Kaduna,” he stated.

    Oyeyemi said as soon as the crash occurred, FRSC rescue teams were mobilised from the Ambulance Point and Unit Command at Doka and Kateri to the scene, where they carried out the rescue activities.

    He pointed out that their corpses were conveyed to and deposited at the National Hospital, Abuja by his personnel.

    On the cause of the crash, Oyeyemi noted that preliminary investigation into the cause indicated that the crash was due to tyre burst, which led to loss of control and somersaulting of the vehicle.

    He added, however, that he has ordered full investigation into the crash to be carried out by FRSC Accident Investigation Team.

    The corps marshal noted with the unfortunate incident, “FRSC is more determined to work with the Executive and members of the National Assembly as well as other relevant stakeholders to workout appropriate modalities for ensuring crash-free roads”.

    He said training and retraining of government drivers was part of the measures being taken by the FRSC to avert convoy crashes.

    He noted that when FRSC trained the drivers of the governors’ convoy, the benefits in terms of improved driving culture became immediately noticeable.

    The Corps, Oyeyemi said, would be working with members of the FEC to put some measures in place, including re-training of their drivers to avoid convoy crashes.

    “We are working with the Minister of Works, Power and Housing to install traffic signs at some strategic points along the highways. We are equally committed to working with the National Assembly to step up advocacy and enforcement strategies to curtail issues of speed violation and promotion of use of seatbelt,” Oyeyemi stated.

  • Accident mystery: Car somersaults, lands on three vehicles

    Accident mystery: Car somersaults, lands on three vehicles

    A Honda CRV car somersaulted several times on Burma Road in Sabon Gari area of Kano and mysteriously ended up atop three vehicles parked in front of a residential building.

    The road mishap occurred between 11-12 mid night on Monday, while most of the residents were about to go to bed and had already parked their vehicles after a hard day’s job.

    However, it is still a mystery that the driver of the ill-fated driver escaped with only a minor injury, but his vehicle was extensively damaged.

    Shortly after the accident, the bewildered driver told residents at the scene of the crash that all he could recall or remember was that “I saw a herd of sheep crossing the road and in an attempt to avoid them, I veered off the road and my vehicle somersaulted several times and ended atop three parked vehicles.

    ”I saw an animal, which looks like an elephant, including lions and other species of other animals crossing the road and in attempt to avoid them, I became confused while they were crossing the road at such an odd hour between 11-12 pm while on my way home. Before I could realize what was happening, I just heard a loud voice and later found myself atop the roof of my CRV car.”

    According to a witness, the driver of the CRV Honda car said while on his way home, he got a phone call that his children were crying inside the house because his wife was not at home and he locked-up the children inside the house.

    Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and police officers have since inspected the scene of the crash and towed the damaged vehicles to their station for further investigation.

  • How First Lady’s mum died in car crash

    How First Lady’s mum died in car crash

    Details of the accident in which the mother of First Lady Patience Jonathan died emerged yesterday. The car on somersaulted several times before it crashed, it was learnt.

    The lone accident on the Elele-Isiokpo road involved only the Toyota Corolla saloon in which the late Madam Charity Fynetaco Kalada and three others were travelling.

    They were believed to be heading for Bayelsa State when the accident occurred.

    Besides, Madam Kalada, her 14-year-old relative whose name was simply given as Favour, also died in the accident.

    One of the front tyres of the car, marked ABU 153 AE was said to have suddenly pulled off when the car was negotiating a bend. The car to somersault many times.

    Favour was a student of the Seventh Day Adventist Church Secondary School, Elele, Rivers State.

    The driver of the car whose name was given as Stanley Enyinnaya, and the fourth occupant, a woman, are receiving treatment in a private hospital at the Government Reservation Area (GRA), Port Harcourt.

    A source in the Office of the First Lady said:

    “The First Lady is, indeed, very devastated by the sad news. We are expecting her back in the country tomorrow (today).”

    Mama Sisi was in Germany for treatment on an undisclosed ailment about three months ago. The Presidency, following speculations, explained that the First Lady was not sick but went to Germany to attend to her mother.

    Favour’s body was also deposited along with the remains of Madam Kalada at the Kpaima Mortuary, Elechi Beach, Mile One, Diobu, Port Harcourt on Monday evening.

    Two other occupants (male and female) in the car, who are critically injured are being treated in a private hospital at the Government Reservation Area (GRA) in the Rivers State capital.

    Doctors were battling to save the two survivors when our reporter left the hospital at about 3pm.

    Rivers police spokesperson Angela Agabe said details of the accident were sketchy. She said investigation was ongoing.

    Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC)Sector Commander Dr. Kayode Olagunju said: “We do not speak on certain cases, until all the facts are fully established.”

    Madam Kalada was adopted by Dame Jonathan as mother, to fill in for her biological mother, who died during her teen years.

    Dame Patience left for home yesterday following the death of her mum. She was away in Geneva when the crash occurred.

    The news was said to have been broken to her in Geneva by President Goodluck Jonathan through the telephone on Monday night.

    Cross River State Governor Liyel Imoke commiserated with the First Family on the death of the mother of the First Lady.

    Imoke described her death as painful and unfortunate.

    In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary Christian Ita, the Governor said the incident was tragic.

    “It is with a sense of shock and loss that I received the sad news,” he said.

    He urged the First Family to find consolation in the fact that “she lived an exemplary worthy of emulation.”

    Imoke said she will be sorely missed.

    Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson described the death as a great blow to her family and the nation

    In a statement his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson Dickson said: “The death of Mama is a great blow and an irreparable loss to her immediate family and the nation as a whole. Her motherly and wise counsel will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

    “Her demise is coming at such a time when the First Lady and her family needed her support and encouragement most.”

    He urged the Mrs. Jonathan, the family and the Oba family of Okrika in Rivers State to accept the “unfortunate incident as the Will of God and take it with philosophical calmness”.

    “The Bayelsa State, Governor, on behalf of the Government and people of Bayelsa State prayed God to strengthen and grant Dame (Dr.) Patience Jonathan and the entire family the fortitude and courage to bear the loss” he said.