By BASSEY WILLIE

The Police in Bayelsa have released the identities of the victims of the Thursday evening auto crash along Tombia-Amassoma road and launched a manhunt for the fleeing female driver.

The road is leading to the newly opened Bayelsa State Airport and the state-owned Niger Delta University (NDU).

The Spokesman for the Bayelsa Command, SP Asinim Butswat, in a statement on Friday confirmed the Daily Trust report that five passengers died in the accident.

He added that the command has launched a full-scale investigation to ascertain the cause of the accident.

The statement said, “The fatal motor accident occurred on 19 August 2021, at about 1640 hours along Tombia -Amassoma Road, involving a Toyota Venza with Reg N0. KMK 617 BY, and two tricycles with Reg No. NSK 073 QH and LND 223 QH.

“Five corpses were evacuated from the scene and four of them have been identified as, Okon Daniel ‘m’ 47 years, Oweinkuro Profit ‘m’ 52 years, Mrs Domoye Ikpaipai ‘f’ 73 years and Bathurst Augusta Nyoun residing at bossy water along Amassoma road.

“Sketch marks of the scene has been taken and investigation is ongoing.

“An unidentified female who drove the Toyota Venza absconded from the scene of the accident. The Police have launched manhunt for the female who drove the Venza. Investigation is ongoing to arrest the fleeing woman."

An eye witness, Mr Stephen Jones, had told Daily Trust that the driver of the Venza lost the control as a result of the downpour and rammed into two oncoming tricycles, leading to the death of five passengers with others injured.

He said that men of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) had evacuated the corpses and deposited them at a mortuary in Yenagoa, while the injured persons were taken to hospital for treatment.

Authorities of Bayelsa State Command of the FRSC have yet to comment on the auto crash.

However, an official, who did not want his name mentioned, said the accident occurred due to speeding by the Venza driver.

“The driver lost control and rammed into the tricycles,” he added.

The Tombia-Amassoma road is said to have witnessed heavy traffic recently due to the commencement of commercial flight operations at the airport. (Daily Trust)

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