Tragedy struck on Warrake Road in Owan East Local Government Area of Edo State on Thursday when the campaign convoy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the September 21 governorship election, Senator Monday Okpebholo, collided with a Toyota Camry, resulting in the deaths of five occupants.
Tribune Online gathered that the accident occurred near the Uzebba axis in Owan West Local Government Area in the evening.
The driver of the car, Emmanuel Edionwe, along with four others, died on the spot, while another victim was rushed to the Irrua Specialist Hospital, where they remain in critical condition.
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According to a witness, the campaign convoy was speeding when one of the vehicles veered off and collided head-on with the Camry as it attempted to negotiate a bend.
The victims, reportedly returning from a funeral, left their families devastated.
The bodies of the deceased have been deposited at the Edo State University, Uzairue Mortuary in Etsako West Local Government Area.
A relative of Emmanuel Edionwe, one of the deceased, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said, “We are devastated beyond words. Emmanuel was a good, easy-going boy who should not be dead today.
“He and his friends were driving in the Silver Camry car. After the accident, we just learnt that five of them have died after the collision with Okpebholo’s convoy.
“Emmanuel and four of his friends are dead. There is just one of them who is in critical condition and is now being nursed to life at the hospital.” The relation explained.
The family source explained that Edionwe died at the Irrua Specialist Hospital (ISH) in Irrua, where he was later transferred to for specialist care.
“It was officials of the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) that evacuated the bodies from the scene of the accident. Four of them died yesterday (Thursday). One died this morning. There is only one surviving person in critical condition”, he added.
The source disclosed that while Senator Okpebholo checked on the victims in the hospital, they had been rushed to Auchi after the accident, the APC campaign council had refused to acknowledge the incident or even commiserate with the affected families.
When contacted, Edo State Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Moses Yamu, said that he would call the officers in Owan East to confirm the accident.
But when he was contacted again, the PPRO said that he was in traffic and would get back. He never did as at the time of filing this report.
Also, the Edo State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Paul Okpe, did not pick his call when contacted, nor did he respond to the message sent to his number over the accident.
