The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Bauchi State Sector Command has said that nine travelers have lost their lives to a night crash that resulted in fire, it said that eight others also sustained injuries on Bauchi–Maiduguri Federal highway on Monday night.

According to a statement from the Sector Command, issued by a Senior Road Marshal Assistant, Suleiman Adamu Toro, said the Toyota 18-seater bus had one of its tyres burst while colliding with a tipper. “The multiple road traffic crash involved two vehicles driving from opposite directions.”

“The crash occurred on Monday, August 3rd, at about 11:20pm and was reported at 1125pm while operatives of the FRSC arrived at the scene at 11:40pm. The crash occurred close to Zangoro village along the Bauchi -Maiduguri Federal highway involving two vehicles, a Toyota bus with registration number DRZ133LG used for commercial purposes and a Man Diesel tipper with no registration number used for the commercial purpose of packing sand.”

According to the FRSC, the crash involved 17 male adults out of which 9 were confirmed dead, burnt beyond recognition while 8 others were injured.

The Corps attributed the incident to tyre burst while on motion as the probable cause of the crash while the vehicles and properties recovered from the scene were handed over to the motor traffic division of the Bauchi State Police Command for further investigation and diligent prosecution.

The rescue team conveyed victims to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) for medical attention while the corpses were deposited at the morgue.