Two killed, six injured in Gombe road accident

No fewer than two people have been confirmed dead, while six others sustained serious injuries in a fatal road accident involving a heavy-duty truck along the Gombe–Yola Road in Gombe State. 

The crash happened at about 10:20pm on Tuesday at New Mile 3, close to the entrance of the main dual carriageway on the Gombe axis.

Reports said the accident involved a long open-body truck carrying bags of rice, which was allegedly improperly parked at the spot.

Confirming the incident, the Senior Special Assistant on Security Matters and Intergovernmental Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Danbayo, said preliminary findings pointed to negligence on the part of the truck driver.

“Initial investigations revealed that the truck was improperly parked and the handbrake was not adequately engaged. As a result, the vehicle moved uncontrollably and collided with a Mach Operations Hattara Toyota Hilux,” Danbayo stated.

He added that the truck also struck individuals who were at the scene, including a member of the Hattara vigilante group and another passenger whose identity could not be immediately established.

“The impact was severe, leading to the death of two persons at the scene, while six others sustained varying degrees of serious injuries,” he said.

The injured victims were immediately rushed to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, for emergency medical care, while the two deceased persons were confirmed brought in dead and deposited at the Specialist Hospital, Gombe.

Danbayo further disclosed that the truck driver had been arrested and was currently in police custody.

“The driver has been taken into custody at the Tumfure Police Division, and arrangements are ongoing for his transfer to the Motor Traffic Department (MTD), Gombe, for further investigation and prosecution in line with the law,” he added.

Authorities have urged motorists to exercise caution, especially when parking heavy-duty vehicles along major highways, to prevent similar tragedies.

Investigations into the incident are ongoing.

Recall that eleven passengers have lost their lives in an accident that occurred on the Benin-Asaba highway in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State on Tuesday.

Seven others sustained varying degrees of injuries in the accident.

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