No fewer than four persons have been killed and 11 others sustained varying degrees of injuries in three road crashes that occurred at different locations in Anambra State between Monday and Tuesday.
The three accidents occurred on the same stretch of the Onitsha-Awka Expressway but at different locations.
PUNCH Metro gathered that one person was killed and five others injured during a road accident at the Ukpo junction along the Onitsha-Nteje-Awka Expressway in Anambra State.
According to an eyewitness account, the road crash occurred at about 6:41 pm on Monday, attributing the cause of the crash to wrongful overtaking.
The source, who spoke in anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media on the matter, said the bus driver was trying to overtake a vehicle on the same lane with him but failed, and rammed into the other vehicle coming from the opposite direction on a single carriageway and crashed.
The acting Sector Public Education Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Margaret Onabe, who confirmed the accident in a statement, said it involved a commercial Toyota Delica bus with registration number NZN116LK and a private Toyota Diana, with registration number ACA529XA.
Onabe, who spoke on behalf of the state Sector Commander of the FRSC, Adeoye Irelewuyi, said three male adults and three female adults were involved in the crash.
Not long after, two yet-to-be-identified female passengers lost their lives while five others were injured in a fatal crash at Obenetiti Awkuzu along the Onitsha-Nteje-Awka Expressway in Anambra State.
Eyewitnesses near the crash said it occurred at about 5:20 am on Tuesday and involved a driver of a Mack tanker with registration number AAA877XR and another driver of a commercial Toyota Diana with registration number: AGL627XC.
The source attributed the crash to a brake failure, adding that the Mack tanker failed its brake and crushed into the commercial vehicle.
Confirming the accident, Onabe said three male adults and four female adults were involved in the crash, adding that two female adults were killed and their corpses had been deposited at the morgue
She said, “A fatal road traffic crash was recorded on June 10, 2024, at Ukpo junction by the Onitsha-Nteje-Awka Expressway, between two unidentified drivers – a commercial Toyota Delica bus with registration number; NZN116LK and a private Toyota Diana, with registration number, ACA529XA.
“According to an eyewitness report, the bus driver was trying to overtake a vehicle on the same lane with him but failed, and rammed into the other vehicle coming from the opposite direction on a single carriageway and crashed.
“Three male adults and three female adults were involved in the crash. Five persons were injured, two female adults and two male adults, while one female adult was rescued unhurt.
“The injured victims were rushed to Boromie Mission Hospital, Onitsha by the FRSC rescue team from RS5.33 Nteje for medical attention where one female adult was confirmed dead by the doctor, and the corpse was deposited at the morgue.
“The rescue team managed traffic, towed the two vehicles to the command, and ensured obstructions caused by the crash were cleared.”
She added that the Anambra State Sector Commander, Corps Commander Adeoye Irelewuyi, commiserated with the family of the dead victim, and wished the injured victims a quick recovery.
He admonished motorists to avoid reckless driving, especially at night time, urging them to watch and ensure the road is clear before overtaking.
Similarly, one person was killed, and one other sustained injury in another crash that occurred opposite the Slaughter area, along the Nteje-Awka-Onitsha Expressway.
It was gathered that the accident involved a commercial Mack tanker with registration number: LSD760XL and a private Toyota Camry with registration number: JRV358HK.
The probable cause of the fatal road traffic crash was attributed to speeding and wrongful overtaking.
According to an eyewitness, the two vehicles were at a high speed, when the private driver wanted to overtake the tanker, the tanker rammed into him and entered the bush.
Three persons were involved in the crash comprising (three male adults,) one male adult sustained injury while one male adult was killed.
Onabe confirmed that the FRSC rescue team from the RS5.3 Nteje rushed the injured victims to Chira Hospital, where one male adult was confirmed dead and the corpse deposited at the morgue.
He urged motorists to maintain a safe speed and drive within speculated speed limit to arrive at their destination alive.
