The Abia State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has verified a road traffic accident at Arongwa village, opposite the Arab Contractors Construction Company site, along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway on Wednesday. The accident resulted in the loss of eleven lives, with eight other passengers sustaining serious injuries.
This incident occurred just three days after another accident which claimed the lives of infants and adults on Sunday, an occurrence which the FRSC attributed to driver fatigue.
In an official statement signed by Commander Ngozi Ezeoma, the FRSC reported that the accident, transpired at 12:45 hrs, involved a white Nissan Caravan commercial bus, bearing registration number SSM 320 ZR, conveying 19 persons (8 male adults and 11 female adults) traveling to Enugu. The bus collided with a HOWO commercial truck with registration number T2828LA.
It was noted in the statement that a combined rescue team from FRSC RS 9.31 Aba and RS 9.32 km78 Aba Unit Commands arrived at the crash site within 5 minutes of being informed and performed rescue operations.
"At the time of the crash, 10 persons (5 male adults and 5 female adults) were injured, while 9 persons (4 male adults and 5 female adults) died at the scene. The injured victims were conveyed to Ronald Hospital, Umuikaa, and Living Word Hospital, Aba, while the deceased were taken to Alanwemadu and Peace Mortuary, Aba.
"After a hospital follow-up, it was determined that one male adult and one female adult succumbed to their injuries, while one victim was referred to the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia.
"As a result of this latest event, a total of 11 persons (five male adults and six female adults) have been confirmed dead, and eight persons (four male adults and four female adults) are confirmed to be injured," the FRSC announced.
The statement further revealed that preliminary investigation indicated that excessive speed was the cause of the crash. The FRSC assured that further updates on the cause(s) of the crash would be communicated as soon as its crash investigators concluded their investigation.