SAN FRANCISCO, October 19, (THEWILL)- Seven persons, five adults and two children, were killed on Saturday morning in an auto accident involving the advance team of the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, on the Benin-Auchi Expressway.
Eyewitness account said the accident occurred at Ehorin Uhunmwode Local Government Area when a Toyota Hilux van of the governor’s advance team had a head-on collision with an Audi car.
The advance team was said to be on their way to Ambrose Ali University (AAU), Ekpoma, for the convocation of the university.
Three survivors, including a driver, were reportedly taken to the Central Hospital in Benin City for medical attention.
It was learnt that a Good Samaritan rushed the survivors and the dead to the First Save Accident Victims Association of Nigeria Medical Centre.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Danmallam Mohammed, confirmed the incident, describing it as “very unfortunate”.
The Edo State Government also confirmed that the accident as it commiserated with the families of the victims and described the fatal crash as “extremely sad”.
In a statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr Crusoe Osagie, it said, “We have confirmed from the Police and the Federal Road Safety Corps details of the accident involving the advance team of the governor’s protocol team.
“The development is extremely sad. We commiserate with the families of the victims and pray that God grant them the fortitude to bear the painful loss.
“From our findings, the Audi vehicle lost its tyre and ran into a pothole, before colliding with the Hilux vehicle, which was conveying protocol officers from Edo State Government House.”
The state, however, added that the state government would ensure that the affected families get the necessary support to lessen the impact of the incident.
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