LAGOS, March 23, (Xinhua/GNA) – At least 19 persons were killed in a road accident on Sunday along a busy highway in Kaduna, a state in northwest Nigeria, a local official said on Monday.
Samuel Aruwan, the Commissioner for the internal security and home affairs in the state, confirmed the incident to Xinhua, saying it occurred on Sunday at Kateri in Kagarko local government area of the state.
The accident, according to Aruwan, involving a commercial truck, was caused by a combination of speeding and an exploding tire, leading to a loss of control, which caused the vehicle to veer into the bush.
A total of 53 people were involved in the accident, 16 of them died on the spot and three others were confirmed dead later, said Aruwan.
The commissioner said 34 persons sustained injuries of various degrees, and they are receiving treatment in a local hospital in the state.
Deadly road accidents are frequently reported in Nigeria, often caused by overloading, bad condition of roads, and reckless driving.
GNA