A devastating road traffic accident in the Sabon Barki area of Jos South Local Government Area, Plateau State, has resulted in the tragic deaths of a father and his son, while three others sustained severe injuries.
The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon, October 18, when a commercial bus collided with a commercial tricycle conveying a family of five who were returning from a local church service. According to eyewitness accounts, the impact of the collision caused the tricycle to instantly catch fire, trapping two occupants inside the vehicle.
Passersby and local residents who rushed to the scene made desperate attempts to put out the fire and rescue those trapped inside, but the intensity of the inferno overwhelmed their efforts. The father and his son succumbed to their injuries at the scene before emergency personnel arrived.
“I was passing by on my way from work when I saw people crying. I went closer to find out what had happened and saw people trying to rescue the victims,” Gyang said.
“But the fire was too much for us to handle. It was beyond our strength, and we could not do much to rescue them from the burning tricycle.”
He said he did not witness the actual collision.
“When the other vehicle hit the Keke, I was not there. I only came across the scene afterwards and saw people crying,” he added.
The eyewitness further alleged that the driver of the other vehicle fled the scene after the crash.
Three survivors of the crash, including the deceased man’s wife, who suffered a broken leg, another child, and the tricycle operator, were successfully pulled from the wreckage. They were immediately evacuated by emergency responders to a nearby orthopedic hospital for urgent medical attention.
The Public Education Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps in Plateau State, Peter Longsan, confirmed the details of the crash, describing it as a severe and unfortunate incident. Preliminary reports indicate that the collision was caused by excessive speeding and reckless driving. Longsan noted that the driver of the commercial bus fled the scene immediately after the impact, and law enforcement agencies have initiated an investigation to locate his whereabouts.
The road safety agency has reminded motorists to exercise strict caution, adhere closely to speed limits, and maintain absolute vigilance to avoid preventable tragedies on public highways.