The deplorable state of the Ugbolu – Illah road in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State on Wednesday night claimed the lives of three persons who were reported to have been involved in an auto crash on their way to Illah community from Asaba.
It was gathered that the commercial vehicle, in which the victims including seven others were travelling to Illah community, crashed into a deep pothole and somersaulted, leading to some of the victims hitting their heads on the windscreen of the vehicle.
This left them with deep cuts as blood gushed out of the affected parts of their bodies.
The affected passengers were said to have been rushed to FMC, Asaba where they gave up the ghost.
The state commandant, Federal Road Safety Corps, (FRSC), Mr. Random Kulven, who spoke to journalists on Thursday in Asaba over the incident, said ,“the driver of the commercial bus was on speed and could not control his speed when he fell into the deep pothole, seven of the passengers sustained injuries including the driver, and three died in the hospital, the bus somersaulted thrice and the broken windscreen hit the three who dies on their heads and they bled seriously”.
The road, investigation revealed, is at present a death trap and has been abandoned by many motorists even though the road serves as a link to the Northern part of the country from Illah to Edo State.
Speaking to journalists, a commercial bus driver, Daniel Sunday Okafor, said it would be in the interest of the people if the Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa takes up the repair of the federal road.
He lamented that sufferings have become more terrible and worrisome for residents of Akwukwu-Igbo community, who have no direct link with their neighbours, Ugbolu, and would need to pass through to Illah and Ugbolu.
But officials of FERMA in Asaba, who spoke to journalists on the condition of anonymity, said efforts were being made to provide temporary measures to assist motorists and residents of the areas.
The officials, however, disagreed with those who claimed that the federal government had been insensitive to road maintenance, saying that several roads have been constructed by the present administration in the last three years.
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