BY SAMUEL OYADONGHA
YENAGOA — Tragedy struck, Saturday night, at the Opolo suburb of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital when a driver crashed into a tricycle and pedestrians, killing five persons including a pregnant woman.

The incident, it was learnt, occurred at about 10 p.m. along the usually busy Opolo stretch of the Melford Okilo expressway.
According to eye witnesses, the driver of a Toyota Avalon car with number plate, LAGOS EKY 711 BV, may have lost control and crashed into the tricycle popularly known as Keke NAPEP.

It was gathered that three of the victims, including a pregnant woman and the driver of the tricycle, said to be of Northern extraction were killed on the spot.

Also, one of the victims was identified as Miss Akpotu, a native of Amassoma in Southern Ijaw council area of the state.

The tragic incident, which occurred opposite a popular bar, was said to have caused pandemonium in the area as sympathizers rallied and administered first aid treatment to those that sustained injuries.

Though the driver of the Toyota Avalon car was said to have fled the scene of the carnage, officers of the Divisional Traffic Control from Ekeki Police Station were on hand to assist in the evacuation of victims to the Federal Medical Centre in Yenagoa.

Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Alex Akhigbe, confirmed the incident.