Tragedy, on Tuesday, struck in Cross River State when a Toyota Camry lost control and rammed into the crowd, killing about 15 persons while several others were injured during the Bikers’ Carnival held in Calabar, the state capital.
According to witnesses, shortly after the Bikers’ parade was flagged off about 5:00pm, one of the Camry on the parade, sped off from Eleven-Eleven Round-About along Calabar Road heading to Mary Slessor, one of the adjucation points, lost control and rammed into the crowd around the Central Mosque at Bogobiri and killed about 5 persons on the spot.
A witness further said after about 20 minutes of the the incident a other five gave up the ghost while others died on the way to hospital and a few died at various hospitals they were rushed to.
He said l those affected are some members of Hausa community, passers-by and shop owners who came for one business or the other around the Bogobiri axis.
According to the witness, the incident created pandemonium as people ran helter shelter for safety following reaction by Hausa community whose people were mostly affected.
As at the time of filling this report, the corpses have been evacuated while the injured persons numbering over 10 have been rushed to hospitals for medical attention.
Meanwhile, security personnel have cordoned off the Mary Slessor -Bigobiri axis to forestall breakdown of law and order just as the Carnival ended abruptly.
The state governor, Prof. Ben Ayade was already seated with other dignitaries when the incident occurred.
Confirming the incident, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Cross River, Maikano Hassan, said it occured when the driver of the Camry lost control and rammed into the crowd of onlookers.
Hassan, however, said seven people died in the incident, while 29 others were injured.
He said that victims of the incident have been all evacuated to hospital.