From Tony Osauzo and Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
Four persons, in the early hours of yesterday, lost their lives in a multiple accident which occurred along Sokponba road by Ogbelaka junction, in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
Eyewitnesses said several other persons sustained varying degrees of injuries in the accident which involved a tipper laden with sand and two minibuses conveying passengers from the Ring road axis to Upper Sokponba.
It was gathered that the tipper, while trying to overtake another tipper, lost control and went on head-on collision with the two buses.
Men of the Edo State Police Command and the vigilante group were spotted at the scene of the accident trying to restore normalcy to the area.
It was further gathered that the bodies of the victims have been deposited in the mortuary, while other survivors with injuries were in the Intensive Care Unit of the Edo Specialist Hospital in Benin City.
Soon after the accident, many passersby and concerned residents were said to have gathered to help the victims.
Following the gridlock created as a result of the incident, many persons trying to get to their offices and places of business were stranded yesterday, even as many resorted to trekking to their various destinations.
When contacted, spokesman of the Edo State Police Command, SP Kontongs Bello, said four persons lost their lives in the accident, whilst several others sustained varying degrees of injuries and were receiving treatment.
He also said that the driver of the tipper has been arrested.