The Federal Road Safety Corps, Kaduna Sector Commander, Kabir Nadabo, said the accident occurred at Aliko filling station on the Kaduna-Zaria expressway on Tuesday at about 06:25hrs.
Nadabo attributed the multiple accidents to speeding and dangerous driving, which resulted in the temporary halting of the movement of motorists.
He, however, said that the road was now free and clear for movement, noting that the rescue team of Zebra 35 Rigachikun responded promptly to the scene and conducted the rescue.
“The initial investigation of the crash revealed that 23 people were involved in the crash, 11 were injured and sadly, all 6 lost their lives,” Nadabo said.
He said that the investigation revealed that the Toyota bus was coming from Ilesha and heading to Batsari, in Katsina State, adding, “The driver was at high speed, lost control and rammed into a moving vehicle, thus causing the crash.”
Nadabo said most of the road traffic crashes on the highway were caused by motorists not from Kaduna state, but mostly from other states and were due to fatigue.
He stated that as the lead agency in transport management and road safety, the FRSC was saddened by this unfortunate but avoidable incident.
“The Corps in Kaduna state will continue to perform its statutory duty of saving lives and properties and most fundamentally, creating awareness on the dangers of Road safety vices and unethical road culture.
“Kaduna state is a critical corridor, therefore the state Command has established instruments of safety that will guide transporters on the importance of safe travels in this yuletide season and beyond.
“Remember, the more we educate motorists on the significance of cultivating safety behavior on the roads, the fewer Road Traffic Crashes will be experienced,” he said.
He called on the stakeholders, particularly the transport unions to help us reach out and advocate the language of safety to their drivers.
Nadabo added that the corps was liaising with media outlets to better inform the public on the dangers of dangerous driving, overloading, driving with worn-out tyres and fatigue caused by long journeys, etc.
He, however, appealed to all categories of road users to abide by safe driving ethics at all times.
The FRSC had in December cautioned motorists against overloading and dangerous driving, including driving at night.
The Corps Marshal, FRSC, Dauda Biu, while he led a special patrol along the Zuba-Kaduna Expressway to ensure compliance with traffic rules and regulations, noted that respect for traffic rules and regulations would ensure safer highways and free flow of traffic.
NAN
