Faulty handbrake blamed as Gombe crash kills two

No fewer than two persons have been confirmed dead, while six others sustained serious injuries following a fatal road traffic incident involving a heavy-duty truck along the Gombe–Yola Road in Gombe State.

PUNCH Metro gathered on Wednesday that the incident, which occurred at about 10:20pm on Tuesday at New Mile 3, near the entrance to the main dual carriageway along the Gombe axis, was caused by improper use of a handbrake.

According to reports, the accident involved a long open-body truck loaded with bags of rice, which was allegedly improperly parked at the location.

 Confirming the incident, the Senior Special Assistant on Security Matters and Intergovernmental Affairs, Yusuf Danbayo, said preliminary findings indicated negligence on the part of the truck driver.

“Initial investigations revealed that the truck was improperly parked and the handbrake was not adequately engaged. As a result, the vehicle moved uncontrollably and collided with a Mach Operations Hattara Toyota Hilux,” Danbayo stated.

He added that the truck also struck individuals who were at the scene, including a member of the Hattara vigilante group and another passenger whose identity could not be immediately established.

“The impact was severe, leading to the death of two persons at the scene, while six others sustained varying degrees of serious injuries,” he said.

The injured victims were immediately rushed to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, for emergency medical care, while the two deceased persons were confirmed brought dead and deposited at the Specialist Hospital, Gombe.

Danbayo further disclosed that the truck driver had been arrested and was currently in police custody.

“The driver has been taken into custody at the Tumfure Police Division, and arrangements are ongoing for his transfer to the Motor Traffic Department, Gombe, for further investigation and prosecution in line with the law,” he added.

PUNCH Metro Investigations into the incident are ongoing.

Recall that PUNCH Metro reported another fatal crash on the Benin–Asaba Highway in the Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, which claimed the lives of eleven passengers on Tuesday.

In the same crash, seven others sustained varying degrees of injuries.