Eleven women returning from a wedding died on Saturday at an accident in Na’ibawa ‘Yan Lemo, Kano State.
Their vehicle, a Sharon bus with 18 passengers, crashed into a toll gate booth.
While trying to a avoid a speeding Golf car, the bus, also on to speed, lost control and ran into the toll gate kiosk.
Eyewitnesses said the vehicle somersaulted and fell by the roadside.
Eight passengers died instantly. The others were rushed to Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital, where three died. The deceased were buried yesterday morning.
A survivor, Aliyu Yusuf, said the women were returning from the family home of a newly married man in Wailari, on their way to the bride’s home at Unguwa Uku quarters.
“We were coming back from the groom’s family house when we suddenly saw a speeding Golf car behind us. The driver was trying to force himself into our lane because there was a huge pothole on his lane through the toll gate.
“So, to avoid being hit, our driver tried to swerve to the other lane, but unfortunately, there was a trailer coming behind us leaving us with no choice but to return to our original lane. It was in the process the driver lost control and rammed into the toll gate building.
“I didn’t know how I survived. I just saw myself standing by the roadside with another boy who was also in the vehicle. But when I looked at the car, I noticed that it was completely damaged.
“When the bus finally stopped, I just saw blood and bodies everywhere; a woman’s hand was severed from her body while her lifeless body had a baby screaming on its back,” Yusuf said.
The driver of the other vehicle escaped with a broken arm.
Another witness, pointing at blood stains on one of the cubicles, said: “This blood smeared this wall after the rolling head of one of the victims flew and hit it.”
He said the driver of the Golf car sped away, adding that a tricycle rider tried to catch up with him.
The couple lost consciousness after receiving the news.
At the bride’s home, sympathisers wore long faces and condoled with her father.
A spokesman for the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) in Kano, Kabiru Daura, confirmed the incident in a text message.
“Yes, we are aware. A vehicle conveying women believed to be on high speed ran into the toll gate building at Yanlemo on Zaria road. Eight died on the spot while three died in hospital,” Daura said.
