Enugu, Nigeria: Ten lives were tragically lost and eleven others injured in two devastating road crashes along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway on Wednesday, according to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
The state Sector Commander, Mr Franklin Agbakoba, disclosed this on Thursday while briefing reporters on the two fatal accidents that occurred on Wednesday.
Agbakoba said that the road crashes involving seven vehicles occurred at about 9:30 a.m. and 3:45 p.m., respectively, within the Police Estate and Toll Gate axis of Ozalla along the ever-busy Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway.
“As usual, our officers and men from FRSC Ozalla Unit quickly commenced the rescue process, rescuing no fewer than 30 persons and some with major injuries taken to the hospital,” he said.
He added that the crashes involved a total of 40 people, while nine of them died at the spot, and a victim, who was taken to the hospital, died later in the night.
According to him, the first crash involved a trailer, two buses, and a car, while the second crash involved three vehicles, two trailers, and a tricycle.
He stated that among the 40 people involved in the two crashes, the first crash involved 22 males, 11 females, and a child, while the second incident had six males involved.
The sector commander reported that 11 persons were injured in both crashes, comprising one male and nine females in the first crash, and six males in the second.
“The primary cause of these two accidents is basic Road Traffic Violation (RTV) since the motorists involved took the wrong way.
“The axis has been fraught with motorists moving against traffic, and our FRSC Ozalla Unit Command has constantly carried out road education and enforcement against this harmful road habit.
“Just last month, the FRSC Ozalla Unit apprehended three drivers for RTV in the same axis where both accidents took place,” he said.
Agbakoba, however, called for road caution signs to be placed on the road, so that motorists can slow down on the axis as construction is still ongoing.
“I will also implore all drivers to take caution and exercise patience in traffic-busy areas of the road as it is still under construction,” he added.
