The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed that 11 persons lost their lives in a fatal road accident along the Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway on Saturday evening.
The Sector Commander of the FRSC Enugu State Command, Mr. Franklin Agbakoba, disclosed this to journalists in Enugu following the crash, which involved a commercial bus and an articulated trailer.
According to Agbakoba, the accident occurred at about 6:46 p.m. near the FRSC Ozalla Unit Command along the expressway.
“The accident happened at about 6:46 p.m. today, Saturday, at a location adjacent to the FRSC Ozalla Unit Command in the expressway,” he said.
He confirmed that the 11 deceased victims comprised 10 males and one female.
“A total of 36 persons, which included 27 males and nine female, got involved in the collision between a commercial Toyota Coaster Bus and an articulated Mercedes Benz trailer this evening in Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway,” Agbakoba stated.
“Apart from those that unfortunately lost their lives due to the accident; seven persons, which included three males and four female, were injured in the accident.
“The injured victims have been taken to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla for medical attention.
“The dead victims were taken to the UNTH Morgue,” he added.
The sector commander noted that FRSC personnel promptly cleared the wreckage and restored normal traffic flow along the affected axis of the expressway.
“We have restored free flow of vehicular traffic on the accident axis of the expressway,” he said.
Agbakoba disclosed that preliminary investigations point to Route Traffic Violation (RTV) and Loss of Control (LOC) as possible causes of the crash.
He commended officers and marshals of the FRSC Ozalla Unit Command for their swift response in rescuing victims, evacuating the injured to hospital, and removing obstructions from the road.
“Further information on the accident will be made known to the public soon,” he said.
