By Samuel Oyadongha, Yenagoa
YENAGOA — A commercial tricycle passenger was killed on Monday in a road accident involving a truck and a tricycle along the Okaka stretch of Melford Okilo Road, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The incident, which occurred around 8:30 a.m. near Okaka Primary School, sparked a confrontation between an angry crowd and security officials over the circumstances surrounding the crash.
However, accounts of what led to the fatal accident remained conflicting.
An official of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), who spoke on condition of anonymity, said FRSC personnel and a tow truck team stationed in the area observed the Dangote truck allegedly speeding about 400 metres away.
The official said the truck reportedly rammed into a tricycle at a built-up area, crushing a passenger who had fallen from the vehicle.
However, eyewitnesses gave a different account, alleging that the tricycle rider violated traffic regulations by carrying a passenger on the front seat.
They claimed FRSC officials stopped the rider over the alleged offence, leading to an altercation. According to the eyewitnesses, an articulated truck, identified by some sources as a cement-laden trailer, later struck the tricycle and crushed the fallen passenger.
The incident attracted a crowd of sympathisers and commercial tricycle operators to the scene.
The tow truck team alleged that some tricycle operators, believing their personnel were responsible for the accident, attempted to attack them, forcing the tow truck driver and his team to seek refuge at the state police headquarters.
The situation reportedly escalated as the crowd turned hostile and attempted to confront FRSC officials at the scene.
Security operatives, including police officers, were deployed to disperse the crowd and prevent a breakdown of law and order.
It was gathered that the police later involved the military in efforts to track down the truck driver, who reportedly fled the scene after the accident.
The truck was eventually taken to the police headquarters, where it is currently being kept.
As of the time of filing this report, the registration numbers of the vehicles involved had yet to be confirmed.
Confirming the incident, Bayelsa State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Musa Mohammed, said the command had commenced investigation into the accident.
