Mr. George Otoaviokhai, spokesman for the FRSC explained that the crash was a result of dangerous overtaking which he said was avoidable.
He said a commercial bus had attempted to overtake another vehicle in front of it when it rammed into the truck on the other lane.
According to him, “There was a vehicle in front of the bus; the bus was trying to overtake. That was not even needed. The accident was avoidable”, he further said.
It was gathered that the accident occurred on Thursday at about 5pm when a commercial bus with registration number ABD 206XA en route Auchi, had a head-on collision with a trailer laden with rams and goats to Benin City, Edo state capital.
The commercial bus was said to be overtaking another vehicle when it rammed into the trailer with registration number DRX374XA.
17 of the passengers died on the scene while the other two died in the early hours of Friday at a private clinic in Abudu in Orhionmwon local government area of the state.
Reports had it that some of the deceased comprised a family of four travelling to Edo North for the Eid-el-Kabir celebration.
We decided to withhold use of accident pictures as they are too graphic.
