No fewer than seven persons on Saturday died in a motor accident that involved the advance team of Governor Godwin Obaseki and a Toyota Hilux van at Ehor Village on the Benin-Auchi expressway .
Three persons who sustained various degree of injuries were however rushed to the Central Hospital in Benin City for medical attention.
Several other persons including one of the Governor’s driver were also injured in the accident.
This is as the state government has commiserated with the families of the seven victims of the accident.
In a statement, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Crusoe Osagie, conveyed the state government’s condolences to the victims and their families.
“We have confirmed from the Police and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) details of the accident involving the advance team of the Governor’s Protocol team.
“The development is extremely sad. We commiserate with the families of the victims and pray that God grants them the fortitude to bear the painful loss,” Osagie said.
The accident which occurred in the morning claimed the lives of five adults and two children.
The advance team was said to be travelling from Benin to Ekpoma for the convocation ceremony of Ambrose Alli University when a Toyota Hilux van of the Governor advanced team had a head- on -collision with a commercial Audi car.
The State Commissioner of Police, Danmallam Mohammed, who confirmed the incident, described it as “very unfortunate”.
Speaking to newsmen, an eyewitness account who said the accident occurred at Ehor, the headquarters of Uhunmwode Local Government area added that a good Samaritan rushed the survivors and the dead to the Central hospital in Benin.
But at the Central Hospital, a source confirmed that the victims were brought in but however declined to give details.
It was however gathered arrangements were on to evacuate the driver of the Hilux van to a private hospital for adequate medical care.
Osagie said the state government would ensure that the affected families get the necessary support to lessen the impact of the sad incident, noting that more information on the development will be released to the press soon.
