The Federal Road Safety Corps has confirmed that 18 people lost their lives in a multiple-vehicle crash along the Dutse–Kiyawa Highway in Jigawa State.
The accident occurred on Tuesday at Dan Masara Quarters in Dutse.
The FRSC Corps Marshal, Malam Shehu Mohammed, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by the Corps Public Education Officer, Assistant Corps Marshal Olusegun Ogungbemide.
According to Mohammed, preliminary findings showed that excessive speed and a tyre burst caused one of the vehicles to lose control, leading to the fatal crash.
He said the accident involved two commercial Volkswagen Golf cars, one white with registration number XA-500-KYW and another red with registration number RAN-836-XA, as well as a Mercedes-Benz tipper truck with registration number BUU-289-XA.
Mohammed explained that a total of 20 people were involved in the crash, made up of eight adult males, eight adult females, two male children and two female children.
“Eighteen persons died, while two male adults sustained injuries, including bruises, fractures, internal injuries and head trauma,” he said.
He added that the FRSC emergency rescue team was activated immediately after a distress call was received at about 12:17 pm and arrived at the scene within five minutes.
“The victims were promptly evacuated to Dutse General Hospital for medical attention,” Mohammed stated.
The FRSC boss noted that the corps remained committed to crash prevention, traffic enforcement, rescue coordination and quick evacuation of victims during road emergencies.
He warned that speeding, poor vehicle maintenance and the use of worn-out or expired tyres continued to be major causes of deadly crashes across the country.
Mohammed advised motorists to obey speed limits, properly maintain their vehicles and drive with caution at all times.
He said investigations into the crash had begun and assured the public that the corps would continue to work with relevant stakeholders to improve emergency response and road safety nationwide.
Mohammed also expressed condolences to the families of those who died, stressing that preventing crashes remained key to saving lives on Nigerian roads.
