A truck collided with a commercial bus at Ekpon Junction in Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State, leavind at least nine wedding guests dead.
The crash happened at the weekend when the guests were on their way from Benin City to Ewatto in Esan South-East Local Government Area, venue of the wedding ceremony.
It was gathered that out of the 10 passengers in the commercial bus, only one person, identified as DJ Nasco, survived.
The survivor was rushed to the intensive care unit of Shillo Hospital, Ewohimi, while the bodies of the nine persons who died at the scene had been deposited in the mortuary.
However, when information concerning the accident got to the guests at the venue, cries and wailings started, leading to an abrupt end of the event.
A source said, “The guests were on their way to the wedding venue when the fatal accident happened. The deaths destabilised the wedding event as the couple who were already on the dancing floor heard the cry and wailing of other guests at the wedding venue when the news of the accident broke out. The wedding reception ended abruptly, but not without the traditional dowry for the bride’s family.”
However, the Edo State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Henry Benamaisia who also confirmed the accident said:
“Five died on the spot, while three were rushed to the hospital in critical condition. I will still need to get an update from the hospital on the state of those that were taken there, but I can confirm that five died instantly. I will have to reconfirm the latest position from the hospital and get back to you,” Benamaisia said.
The truck driver escaped from the accident scene to avoid being lynched, but irate youths in the area set the truck ablaze.
