Six killed as P’Harcourt-bound bus plunges into Edo river

Six people were confirmed dead when a commercial bus plunged into the Ovia River in Edo State on Thursday evening.

The Edo sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Cyril Mathew, confirmed the incident, noting that divers had been contacted to recover the missing passengers.

He said the FRSC began the rescue mission on Thursday and continued it on Friday.

He stated, “Six people were rescued alive, while one was recovered dead on Thursday. A corpse was also recovered on Friday.

“Unfortunately, the chances of survival for the remaining passengers in the river are slim, given that the accident occurred on Thursday evening.

“We have engaged divers to help recover the bodies, but negotiations are ongoing. The divers are asking for N2 million to carry out the job.”

He said the accident occurred at about 4:20 pm on Thursday when a bus travelling from Lagos to Port Harcourt veered off the highway and plunged into the river.

He added, “According to passengers who survived the crash, the driver lost control of the bus after experiencing brake failure.

“In a desperate attempt to avoid colliding with vehicles in front, the driver veered into the opposite lane, leaving the Ore-Benin-Lagos route and crossing over to the Benin-Ore road.

“However, due to the speed, the driver was unable to regain control, causing the bus to hit a pavement and plunge into the river.”

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: [email protected]