15 occupants of a Toyota bus were burnt beyond recognition in a fatal accident on the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway, after thier vehicle had a head on collision with a Mercedes truck.
It was gathered that the 18-seater bus was travelling from Aba when the accident happened at Ituku in Awgu Local Local Government Area of Enugu State at about 8:30pm on Saturday, April 8, 2023.
Spokesperson of the Enugu State Police Command, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, who confirmed the crash in a statement on Sunday, said only the driver of the tipper survived and is currently admitted in the hospital.
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“The Enugu State Police Command regrets to inform the general public that on 08/04/2023 at about 8.30pm, a fatal motor accident involving a Mercedes Benz Tipper with registration numberA AAA 285 XR and an 18-Seater Commuter to Enugu South Mass Transit bus, with registration number: NKE 622 XA, occurred at Ituku Awgu LGA, along Enugu/Port-Harcourt Expressway,” the statement read.
“Preliminary investigation reveals that the Tipper loaded with bags of cement and plying against traffic from Enugu City, had a head-on collision with the bus loaded with passengers and coming from Aba, Abia State, which resulted in the both vehicles bursting up in flames and all the occupants burning beyond recognition, except the driver of the tipper, who was found alive and is currently admitted in the hospital.
“Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Ammani, fdc, while bemoaning the unfortunate incident in this Easter season, when Christians in the State and the world over are commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, has prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased and also consoled their families, friends and loved ones.
“The CP has, therefore, ordered the State Traffic Officer to carry out full-scale motor traffic investigation into the incident, including evacuating the remains and obtaining the exact identities of the deceased victims and their relatives, as well as coming up with actionable report.
“He cautions motorists against disobeying road traffic rules, while reiterating that the only way to safety on the road is to exercise caution, patience and obey all road traffic rules and regulations.”
Also confirming the accident, the spokesman of the FRSC, Assistant Corps Marshal Bisi Kazeem, said the victims have been given a mass burial.
“The victims have been given mass burial. All obstructions have been cleared. Enugu State Fire Service already extinguished the fire in the bus,” he stated.
“The fatal crash is blameable on several factors including fatigue, which must have made one of the drivers to sleep on the wheels,”
