By Vincent McAnthony

Gombe—No fewer than 14 people were killed with several others sustaining serious injuries in multiple auto crashes that occurred, weekend and yesterday, in Gombe State, with a journalist, Mr. Chuwang Dungs, narrowly escaping death.

Two of the accidents occurred on Gombe-Yola Highway, claiming nine lives, while yesterday’s accident along Bauchi-Gombe Highway, recorded five casualties.

David Mendie, the state’s Sector Commandant of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, said the Yola Road auto occurred as a result of speed-related issues.

He noted that the Sunday accident was a lone one that involved a Tayota car which veered off the road as the driver could not control his speed, adding that yesterday’s accident claimed the lives of all four in an Opel Vectra car.

David Mendie explained that the Opel Vectra driver was trying to overtake, but ended up running head-on into an oncoming articulated vehicle.

Mendie said he could not comment on the Bauchi-Gombe road crash, which occurred at Bara, a border village, because it is under the coverage of Bauchi State Sector Command.

One of the passengers travelling to Gombe from Jos aboard a mini-bus on Sunday, Chuwang Dungs, a journalist, said their driver was trying not to knock down a sheep by swerving to the other lane, only to run into an on-coming speeding Volkswagen Sharon vehicle.

He said he learned that five persons, including the driver of both vehicles and a baby girl, died in the crash.

He added: “Both vehicles were speeding and the Sharon didn’t seem to notice our bus, just as it was too late for our driver to return to his lane.

“But I saw it coming and I stood up from my seat trying to take in the entire occurrence and the next thing I heard was a bang, as both vehicles collided head-on.”

He has been treated and has since been discharged after a night at Gombe Specialist Hospital.