Three persons were burnt to death in an auto accident, which occurred on East-West Road, Zarama, near Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Friday, while another five passengers died in a ghastly crash along Ila-Orangun – Otun-Ekiti road.

While 12 persons sustained injuries in the Bayelsa crash, eight persons were injured in the Osun crash, which occurred on Wednesday.

The Bayelsa accident involved two vehicles – an 18-seater Toyota Hiace and a Toyota Sienna vehicle.

The accident, which caused panic within the community, occurred near the popular Zarama market at 10.20am.

One of the vehicles involved in the accident, an 18-seater Toyota Hiace with number-plate YB 820 AAA, was said to have exploded and went up in flames after it collided with the Sienna.

The situation was said to have resulted in the death of some of the passengers in the Toyota bus, including its driver.

An eyewitness, Mr. Joel Ebi, said the commercial bus was travelling from Warri, Delta State, to Calabar, Cross River State, when the crash occurred.

The second vehicle, he said, a Siena bus with number-plate BJ 292 BWR was conveying a family of eight from Warri, Delta State to Aba, Abia State when the accident occurred.

The remains of the passengers have been deposited at the morgue of the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri, by officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission while the rescued commuters are receiving medical treatment in the same hospital.

Another eyewitness, Mr. Sam Amabebe, said the Hiace bus veered off the road into his farm.

When contacted, the State Commander of the FRSC, Vincent Jack, confirmed the accident.

Jack said, “Three persons were roasted beyond recognition while 12 persons sustained injuries.

“Of the 12 injured persons, four were males and eight were females. The injured have been rushed to the NDTH at Okolobiri.”

Commenting on the Ila-Orangun – Otun-Ekiti accident, eyewitnesses told journalists in Osogbo on Friday that a Toyota Hiace bus with number-plate XP 874 ABC was coming from Abuja to Osun State when it crashed.

Although the cause of the accident remained unknown but an eyewitness who identified himself as Tajudeen said that the accident was caused by reckless speeding.

Meanwhile, two persons were critically injured on Friday evening in an accident involving a White Toyota Hilux van and a red Honda CRV SUV near Prisons Gate, Amawbia, Anambra State.