A road crash in Langtang North Local Government Area of Plateau State has claimed the lives of five persons, while 13 others sustained injuries.
The accident occurred at about 3 a.m. on Sunday at Zangzat Roundabout, Langtang, and involved a trailer conveying marketers from Shendam to Jos, the state capital.
Confirming the incident in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Precious Yakubu, the Chairman of Langtang North LGA, Pirfa Tyem, said preliminary reports indicated that the crash involved a Plateau State–registered vehicle with plate number JJN 383 YZ.
According to the statement, the accident was caused by overspeeding and overloading.
“Upon receiving the report, the Executive Chairman immediately directed a team from the Local Government Council to visit the scene of the accident and the hospital to assess the situation, sympathise with the victims, and ascertain their immediate needs,” the statement said.
It added that five persons died in the crash, while about 13 others sustained varying degrees of injuries and are currently receiving medical treatment at the General Hospital, Langtang.
The council chairman expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
He described the incident as a reminder of the dangers of reckless driving and disregard for road safety regulations, calling on the Federal Road Safety Corps to intensify sensitisation and enforcement across the state.
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Tyem also urged drivers, transporters, marketers and commuters to prioritise safety by adhering to speed limits and avoiding overloading.
“The Council remains committed to collaborating with relevant agencies to promote road safety across the local government area,” the statement added.
The crash occurred barely a week after a fuel tanker accident near St. Louis College in Jos reportedly left two persons dead and 16 others injured.
With the latest incident, the number of people killed in road accidents across Plateau State in the past two weeks has risen to 25.