Five persons have been confirmed dead and 13 others sustained injuries in a road crash in Langtang North Local Government Area of Plateau State..
It was gathered that the accident, which occurred at Zangzat Roundabout in Langtang at about 3am yesterday, involved a trailer conveying marketers from Shendam to Jos, the state capital.
Chairman of Langtang North Local Government Area, Pirfa Tyem, confirmed the accident in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Precious Yakubu.
He said preliminary reports indicate that the accident involved a Plateau State–registered vehicle with plate number JJN 383 YZ and was caused by overspeeding and overloading.
“Upon receiving the report, the executive chairman immediately directed a team from the local government council to visit the scene of the accident and the hospital to assess the situation, sympathise with the victims and ascertain their immediate needs.
“The incident led to the tragic loss of five lives, while about 13 persons sustained varying degrees of injuries.
“The injured victims are currently receiving medical attention at the General Hospital, Langtang.”
The chairman expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
“This unfortunate incident highlights the dangers associated with reckless driving and disregard for road safety regulations,” Tyem said.
He called on the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, to intensify road safety sensitisation and enforcement.
The chairman urged drivers, transporters, marketers and commuters to prioritise safety, adhere to speed limits and avoid overloading.
“The council remains committed to collaborating with relevant agencies to promote road safety across the local government area,” the statement added.
The incident came barely a week after a fuel tanker crashed near St Louis College in Jos which left two people dead and 16 others injured.
The latest crash in Langtang brings the number of persons killed in various road accidents in Plateau State in the past two weeks to 25.
