Death toll from Calabar Carnival accident hits 8

The death toll in the accident at the annual Calabar Carnival in Cross River State has increased to eight.

The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Cross River State, Maikano Hassan, disclosed this on Wednesday.

The Star had reported that seven persons died while 29 others were injured in the incident which occurred after driver of a Toyota Camry car lost control and rammed into a crowd of onlookers at the carnival on Tuesday.

The FRSC boss, Hassan, had listed the number of the injured to include 21 male adults, three women, two male children, and three female children.

Speaking on Wednesday, the FRSC Sector Commander said the additional casualty was one of the injured three female children.

“We went round the hospital where the injured were being treated to discover that one additional death had been recorded.

“We are also pleased to say that some of those injured in the incident had been discharged, while others were responding well to treatment,” he said.

It was further gathered that the driver of the vehicle has been arrested and presently under police watch in an undisclosed hospital where he is receiving treatment for the injury he sustained in the incident.

The Cross River State Commissioner of Police, Sule Balarabe, confirmed the arrest of the driver.

It would be recalled that the annual Calabar Carnival which started during the administration of Donald Duke, has not been held for the past two years.

The carnival was suspended in 2020 due to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic while no reason was given for the carnival not holding in 2021.

The Star