Enugu, Nigeria: A dark day unfolded along the Ozalla/Four-Corner axis of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway as two separate crashes claimed 10 lives and left 10 others injured, according to the Enugu State Police Command.
The accidents which occurred on Wednesday also left 10 people with various degrees of injuries, who are currently receiving treatment in hospitals.
The Command’s Spokesman, SP Daniel Ndukwe, confirmed the incident in a statement issued to reporters on Wednesday in Enugu.
Ndukwe described the incidents as unfortunate while condoling with individuals and families who lost their loved ones in the accidents.
He said, “The first incident, a multiple-vehicle crash, happened at about 9 a.m. on the expressway.
“A Howo truck, inscribed Visco Investment Global and laden with bags of white cement, was en route to Abuja from Aba, Abia State, when it collided with a Toyota Corolla car while attempting to overtake another truck on the same path.
“A Foton bus and a Daihatsu Hijet mini-bus, both driving one-way, were also caught in the collision.
“Sadly, the truck and the Toyota Corolla car went up in flames, with five occupants of the car burning to death. A passenger in the mini-bus was confirmed dead by the attending medical doctor.”
Ndukwe said that similarly, at about 3 p.m. on the same road, another fatal crash occurred.
“This time, it involved a Sino truck belonging to Global Investment and a tricycle.
“The truck, laden with cement and driving one-way from Garriki Enugu to Nenwe in Aninri LGA, on the same Enugu inward-bound lane, rammed into the tricycle, leading to the death of its four occupants.
“They were rushed to the hospital but later confirmed dead,” he said.
The spokesman said that the State’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Mamman Giwa, had mourned the tragic loss of lives and commiserated with the families of the deceased.
He said that the commissioner also directed the State Motor Traffic Department to carry out a diligent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accidents.
“These crashes are avoidable as drivers need to exercise utmost care, especially during these Ember Months, when road traffic usually increases and the possibility of accidents increases too,” Ndukwe quoted the commissioner as saying.
Ndukwe said that the commissioner reminded motorists that “no journey is worth the loss of lives, adding that drivers should shun recklessness, obey traffic rules and prioritise safety over speed to prevent further tragedies.
