Delight Chinedum
Eight persons, including four women lost their lives while six others got injured in a ghastly motor accident along Nteje-Awka route, near New Terminal, close to Ukpo Junction, Anambra state.
The crash which occured around 9pm on Sunday, involved a Mack tanker without registration number and a Toyota Hiace bus, registered as EKP375XM.
According to an eyewitness, the bus, heading to Onitsha, collided with the tanker while overtaking another vehicle on a single carriageway, leaving many passengers dead and others injured.
“The bus, traveling from Abakaliki to Onitsha, was speeding and overtook dangerously before colliding with the tanker, which was heading towards Awka on a single carriageway,” the witness said.
Confirming the incident, Anambra Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Corps Commander Joyce Alexander, said the crash resulted in eight fatalities.
She said the deceased included four males and four females, while the injured were six, comprising two males and 4 females.
She sympathized with deceased families and prayed for speedy recovery of the injured.
She urged drivers to prioritize their safety and that of others by maintaining safe speed and ensuring that the road was clear before overtaking to prevent such tragic incidents.
“Drivers must ensure they drive at a minimum safe speed and only overtake when the road is clear,” she added.
According to Sector Commander, rescue team from RS5.33 Nteje attended to the injured victims, transporting them to the hospital for treatment, while the deceased were taken to Jerusalem Mortuary Nteje after confirmation by a doctor.
She demonstrated her commitment to road safety by visiting the crash scene, inspecting the crashed vehicles at Nteje Police Station, and meeting with the NUPENG Chief of Taskforce.
She also visited the surviving victims at Regina Caeli Hospital and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital to assess their condition and offer support.
The Sector Commander’s proactive approach underscores the FRSC Anambra Sector Command’s dedication to preventing road crashes and ensuring the safety of all road users.
By engaging with stakeholders like NUPENG and monitoring the aftermath of the crash, the Command aims to identify areas for improvement and implement measures to reduce the risk of future accidents.
The FRSC Command reassured the public of its continued efforts to promote road safety awareness, enforce traffic regulations, and collaborate with relevant stakeholders to create a safer road environment for users.