A fatal auto crash along the Gombe–Yola Federal Highway has claimed the lives of eight persons, including a senior police officer, following a high-speed accident at Kaluwa village in Kaltungo Local Government Area.

Zagazola Makama gathered that the incident occurred on Wednesday at about 3:00 p.m., involving a Hummer bus driven by 67-year-old Usman Ibrahim of Damilu, from Yola North LGA, Adamawa State.

The bus, conveying 18 passengers from Yola to Gombe, suffered a rear tyre burst near Kaluwa village, causing the driver to lose control. The vehicle veered off the road and plunged under a bridge.

Response agencies visited the scene and evacuated the victims to the General Hospital, Kaltungo.

On arrival, eight persons were confirmed dead by a medical doctor, including SP Jacob Gabrielattached to 65 PMF Mubi, Adamawa State, who served as a provost.

Two other police officers sustained serious injuries: Insp. Abel Augustine attached to Border Patrol Mubi, suffered multiple fractures whole Cpl Abduljamil Suleiman of Ganye Division, was seriously injured.

Both officers were stabilised and later referred to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Yola, for advanced care. Eight other passengers who sustained varying degrees of injuries were treated and discharged.

The corpses of the deceased were deposited at the hospital morgue. (Zagazola)