No fewer than seven persons were Saturday evening killed and one other seriously injured when a truck rammed into a parked Toyota Camry car at Gbatse in Ushongo local government area of Benue state.
Blueprint learnt that those who died in the accident, which occurred around 5pm included two lecturers from University of Mkar, two children and three others.
Some of the victims identified were Mr. Joshua Leva of Mass Communication Department and Moses Tarnongo, who died along with his wife and three children.
Also, a Zenith Bank ATM Card found on one of the bodies identified another victim as Adaa I. Blessing.
An eyewitness Mr Terungwa Anum Gbatse said the accident happened when a trailer ran into a stationary Toyota Camry car with registration number MKD-300-NH thereby crushing the seven occupants to death.
He said the driver of the truck was carrying a fairly used car, and was trying to dodge a police check-point when he rammed into the waiting car killing the occupants.
He said it took the combined efforts of residents in the area, the police, and officials of Federal Road Safety Corporation (FRSC) who were notified of the incident to force out the dead bodies that were trapped under the truck.
It was learnt that Chairman of Ushongo local government, Hon. Joseph Asawa was said to have cut short his engagement at a reception in Makurdi and rushed to the scene of the accident where he directed that bodies of the victims be deposited at Ostra Gum’s hospital at Ushongo town.
When contacted, Sector Commander of FRSC in Benue, Aliyu Baba who confirmed the accident said seven people were killed, one person injured while four others escaped without physical injury.
He however blamed the unfortunate accident on over speeding on the part of the truck driver.
Meanwhile Governor Samuel Ortom has sent his heartfelt condolences to families of the accident victims who lost their lives at Gbatse in Ushongo Local Government Area of Benue State.
The Governor in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary Terver Akase also sympathised with the management, staff and students of University of Mkar who lost two of their lecturers in the accident – Joshua Leva and Moses Tarnongo who died alongside his wife and three children.
He described the incident as devastating and urged relevant agencies to investigate the unfortunate development.
