4 Die In Akwa Ibom Road Crash

Four persons have been confirmed dead and others critically injured when an 18 seater passenger Hiace bus with Bayelsa inscription, enroute Ukanafun local government area of Akwa Ibom state crashed at the Iwukem intersection of the Azumini – Ekparakwa highway in Etim Ekpo LGA, LEADERSHIP gathered yesterday.

Witnesses including Mr Aniefiok Udofa and Ubong Sunday, local residents told LEADERSHIP Friday that two died on the spot, while another two later died at the nearby Emuchay Hospital at Azumini, Ukwa Ngwa LGA, where they were rushed for emergency rescue operation.

“The bus was on speed and while approaching the Iwukem village intersection close to the Police checkpoint, the driver suddenly applied the brake, which failed and led to the crashing of the bus,” Udofa said, adding that the bus had been towed out of the road after the wounded had been cleared to the nearby Emuchay Hospital at Azumini.

“Seeing the emergency situation, the driver was quick to dive out to safety before the bus crashed with all the passengers struggling for safety before the nearby policemen and local people including street hawkers rushed to the scene to render help. Two people were already dead, while two very unconscious ones later died at the hospital,” another eyewitness, Ubong Sunday, added.

Confirming the incident to our correspondent, the state FRSC boss, Corp Commander, Mathew Olonisaye, explained that “it was a lone accident”, disclosing that “the accident was caused by a burst tyre.”

While warning motorists against excessive speeding and driving with worn-out tyres, Olonisaye, who commiserated with the victims, noted that the accident could have been avoided or with minimal consequences if driver had heeded to the three driving regulations of over-speeding, overloading and driving with worn-out tyres.

He said the commission was considering decentralizing public enlightenment, education and sensitization programmes for drivers in the rural areas with a view to stemming the tides of road fatalities in the communities.