A 35-year old driver, Philip Lucky was on Monday remanded in Sapele prison over reckless driving on the highway, and related offence.
The driver, a staff of BOB Izua Motors in Benin city, Edo state, was arraigned at the Erho Magistrate court where the case came up for hearing.
Lucky was heading to Abraka community from Benin last Friday when ten passengers in his vehicle narrowly escaped being burnt to death; three of the passengers were however burnt beyond recognition after the driver swerved off his lane, causing the vehicle to somersault before going up in flames.
Lucky was said to have tried to avoid a pothole, but could not navigate through the pothole, leading to the death of the the three passengers
Police spokesman in the state, DSP Andrew Aniamaka, who confirmed the incident to DAILY POST, said, “the driver was arrested while he was trying to run away, and was detained at Abraka community Police Division before being charged to court. Upon interrogation, he admitted driving rough.”
The incident, it was gathered, occurred in the outskirts of Abraka community as the driver “recklessly” descended the bridge, a situation that allegedly triggered cries for help from the passengers.
There are claims that it was the fourth time BOB Izua motors plying the road had stumbled into potholes on the road, thus allegedly killing no fewer than five passengers in the last six months. But, the owner of the transport company, Chief John Osamede said such reports were not true, disclosing that some of the company’s driver found to be in the habit of driving rough have been sacked.
Remanding the driver however, Mr Abel Oghonero, Chief Magistrate of the court, sent the suspect to prison custody for his action and incorrigible act, saying, “I remanded in prison custody the driver for his deliberate rough driving and incorrigible act pending the determination of the case.”
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