At least 143 persons have died in various road traffic crashes in Edo State between January and March, according to the Federal Road Safety Corps, Zone 5.
Mr Ayodele Kumapayi, Zonal Commanding Officer, in charge of Edo, Delta, and Anambra states, added that the figure represented a 28.80 per cent increase compared with the 111 people killed in road traffic crashes in the zone within the same period a year ago.
According to him, 1,456 people were involved in the accidents within the period under review, against the 1,407 recorded within the same period last year, representing 3.40 per cent increase in the number involved in the RTCs in the zone.
“I must say that not less than 143 lives were lost in various road traffic crashes across the zone between January and March this year. Also, during the same period, 489 people out of those involved in the RTCs were injured, whereas, within the same period last year, 464 people were injured. This is a 5.30 per cent increase comparatively.
He explained: “However, there was a 3.50 per cent decrease in a number of road accidents recorded in the zone within the period under review, as 193 RTCs were recorded against the 200 recorded within the same period last year.
“We also had a decrease in serious cases recorded as 79 serious cases were recorded against 122 recorded within the same period in the previous year, and this is a 35.20 per cent decrease.”
The ZCO also said that 63 of the crashes recorded were fatal, and represents a 38.70 per cent increase compared with the 49 recorded in the first quarter of 2021.
However, minor cases recorded was 29 and we had the same figure last year too,” he said.