Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Gombe State, Nigeria — Tragedy struck the Kaltungo–Cham Road in Gombe State on Monday morning, when a speeding trailer lost control and crashed into a passenger bus, killing nine people and injuring several others, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed. The deadly collision highlights ongoing concerns about road safety, vehicle maintenance and driver behaviour on Nigeria’s highways during the busy festive travel season. (Punch Newspapers)
According to FRSC Gombe Command Sector Commander Samson Kaura, the crash occurred around 8:33 a.m. at Kaluwa community, within Kaltungo Local Government Area, when the heavy-duty trailer, reportedly travelling at excessive speed on the sloping section of the road, lost control and collided with a Sharon bus from behind. The impact caused the bus to somersault, leading to multiple fatalities and injuries. (Punch Newspapers)
“Preliminary investigation showed that the crash resulted from loss of control due to excessive speed and brake failure,” Kaura told reporters, explaining that the trailer’s brakes were unable to hold as its speed increased downhill, rendering the driver unable to slow or stop in time. (Legit.ng - Nigeria news.)
Of the 18 people involved, five sustained varying degrees of injury and were rushed to the General Hospital in Kaltungo for treatment, while four others miraculously escaped without physical harm. The bodies of those killed were deposited at the hospital’s morgue pending release to families for burial rites. (Ripples Nigeria)
The Federal Road Safety Corps has reiterated its urgent warnings to motorists to avoid speeding and ensure vehicles — especially heavy commercial trucks — are properly maintained, with particular attention to brake systems, before embarking on long journeys. Such precautions are especially important on stretches of road with sharp gradients like parts of the Kaltungo–Cham route. (Legit.ng - Nigeria news.)
FRSC officials noted that vehicle mechanical failure combined with driver error remains a leading cause of road traffic crashes in Nigeria, and that accidents involving heavy-duty trailers and buses often result in the deadliest outcomes. The corps reaffirmed its ongoing campaign to promote safe driving practices, enforce speed limits and increase road patrols, especially during the year-end travel rush when traffic volumes surge and risk factors multiply. (Punch Newspapers)
The Kaltungo–Cham road, a vital feeder connecting northern and eastern corridors, has seen repeated fatal crashes in the past, often attributed to speeding, vehicle defects and poor road infrastructure. Safety advocates argue that enhanced enforcement, driver education and mandatory vehicle inspections can reduce such tragedies, and they have urged authorities to intensify oversight ahead of peak travel periods. (Legit.ng - Nigeria news.)
For many communities in Gombe State — especially those living along major highways — such incidents serve as grim reminders of the daily hazards faced by commuters. Residents have called for stepped-up measures, including more visible FRSC presence on high-risk routes and improved emergency response services to minimize loss of life when accidents do occur. (Ripples Nigeria)
As investigations continue, attention remains focused on the need for better road safety culture across Nigeria, where the combination of human factors and technical failures too often proves fatal. In the wake of this crash, authorities and road users alike have been urged to recommit to fundamental safety standards to protect lives on the nation’s highways. (Punch Newspapers)
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