No fewer than eight persons have been confirmed dead, while 17 others sustained varying degrees of injuries in a fatal road crash along the Funtua–Katsina highway in Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State.

The Federal Road Safety Corps, Katsina Sector Command, said the accident occurred at about 1:32 p.m. on Sunday at Layin Kukah along the Funtua–Katsina road.

According to a First Information Report issued by the command’s Public Education Officer, DRC Shamsudeen Babajo, and made available to journalists on Sunday, “the crash involved a Toyota Hiace commercial bus with registration number 14B 92 TR and an unregistered Bajaj tricycle.

“The crash involved a total of 25 persons. Seventeen sustained varying degrees of injuries, while eight persons lost their lives,” the FRSC said.

The corps said preliminary investigation identified wrongful overtaking as the probable cause of the accident.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the probable cause of the crash was wrongful overtaking (WOV),” the report noted.

The FRSC explained that information about the crash was received at about 1:34 p.m., while its rescue team arrived at the scene at approximately 2:04 p.m., recording a response time of 30 minutes.

Babajo said the rescue operation was carried out in collaboration with the Community Watch Corps, adding that the injured victims were evacuated to Bakori Comprehensive Hospital for treatment, while the deceased were initially taken to the same hospital before being transferred to General Hospital, Funtua.

“The rescue team conducted the rescue operation in collaboration with the Community Watch Corps (C-Watch). The victims and the corpses were taken to Bakori Comprehensive Hospital for medical attention and further check-up, while the corpses were subsequently transferred to General Hospital, Funtua,” he said.

The FRSC appealed to motorists to avoid dangerous overtaking and strictly adhere to traffic regulations to prevent avoidable road crashes. (The PUNCH)