15 Killed, Burnt Beyond Recognition In Enugu Crash

Fifteen occupants of a Toyota bus were killed and burnt beyond recognition on Saturday when the bus had a head-on collision with a Mercedes truck on the Port Harcourt-Enugu Highway.

The spokesman of the FRSC, assistant corps marshal Bisi Kazeem confirmed the accident in a statement he issued yesterday in Abuja.

Kazeem said the accident took place at the Enugu end of the highway at about 8.20 p.m.

“The victims have been given mass burial. All obstructions have been cleared. The Enugu State Fire Service already extinguished the fire in the bus. The fatal crash was blamed on several factors including fatigue, which must have made one of the drivers to sleep on the wheels,’’ he stated.

LEADERSHIP however learnt that the accident occurred at Ituku junction on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Road.

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While also confirming the accident yesterday, the state police command public relations officer, Daniel Ndukwe, said it occurred at about 8.30 pm on Saturday

Ndukwe, who issued a statement, said, “Enugu State Police Command regrets to inform the general public that on April 8, 2023 at about 8.30pm, a fatal motor accident involving a Mercedes Benz Tipper with registration number AAA 285 XR and an 18-seater commuter to Enugu South Mass Transit bus, with registration number: NKE 622 XA, occurred at Ituku Awgu LGA, on Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway.

“Preliminary investigation reveals that the Tipper loaded with bags of cement and plying against traffic from Enugu City, had a head-on collision with the bus loaded with passengers and coming from Aba, Abia State, which resulted in the both vehicles bursting up in flames and all the occupants burnt beyond recognition, except the driver of the Tipper, who was found alive and is currently admitted in the hospital.

“Meanwhile, the commissioner of police, CP Ahmed Ammani, while bemoaning the unfortunate incident in this Easter season, when Christians in the state and the world over are commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, has prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased and also consoled their families, friends and loved ones,” he said.

The CP also ordered the state traffic officer to carry out a full-scale motor traffic investigation into the incident, including evacuating the remains and obtaining the exact identities of the deceased victims and their relatives, as well as coming up with an actionable report.

He cautioned motorists against disobeying road traffic rules, while he reiterated that the only way to safety on the road is to “exercise caution, patience and obey all road traffic rules and regulations.”