A fatal accident occurred on the Port Harcourt-Enugu Highway when a Mercedes truck collided with a Toyota bus, resulting in the death of all 15 passengers on board the bus. The accident took place around 8.20 p.m. at the Enugu end of the highway. The victims have been buried en masse, and the Enugu State Fire Service has extinguished the fire in the bus.
According to the spokesman of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), assistant corps marshal Bisi Kazeem, the accident was due to fatigue, which could have caused one of the drivers to fall asleep behind the wheel. He also stated that all obstructions have been cleared from the road.
The Enugu State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe, confirmed the accident and stated that it took place around 8.30 p.m. on Saturday at Ituku junction on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Road. The accident involved a Mercedes Benz Tipper with registration number AAA 285 XR and an 18-seater commuter bus to Enugu South Mass Transit with registration number NKE 622 XA.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the Tipper, loaded with bags of cement and driving against traffic from Enugu City, had a head-on collision with the bus carrying passengers from Aba, Abia State. Both vehicles burst into flames, and all occupants of the bus, except the driver of the Tipper, were burnt beyond recognition.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Ammani, expressed condolences to the families and friends of the deceased and prayed for the repose of their souls. He also ordered a full-scale motor traffic investigation into the incident and cautioned motorists to obey traffic rules and regulations to ensure road safety.
The accident is a tragic reminder of the importance of safe driving practices. Motorists should exercise caution, patience, and follow all road traffic rules and regulations to avoid accidents.
