EKO HOT BLOG reports that no fewer than 19 people have been killed in a fatal crash that occurred in Enugu State on Saturday.
The incident, which happened at Ituku Town in Awgu local government area along Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, involved 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.
The 18-seater bus, which was a fully loaded, had a head-on collision with a tipper loaded with bags of cement around 8.30pm.
According to a statement signed by the Spokesperson, Federal Road Safety Corps, Bisi Kazeem on Sunday, the road crash was caused by excessive speed and route violation.
The Corps Marshal, FRSC, Dauda Biu, advised against night trips, adding that the Corps is ready to end all speed-induced crashes.
The statement read “The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Dauda Biu has for the umpteenth time advised the motoring public to avoid night trips due to the dangers that come with it; while reaffirming the readiness and determination of the Corps to bring to an end, all speed induced crashes as he puts machinery in motion towards rejigging operational strategies for positive results.
“This came following a considerable increase in speed-related crashes and fatalities recorded in recent times, particularly the fatal crash that occurred at exactly 8:20 pm on Saturday, April 8, 2023, at 0.45km before the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku, Ozalla in Enugu State.
“The crash involved a Toyota Hiace commercial Bus and a Mercedes Benz Truck with registration number AAA264XR. A total of 15 people, comprising of 13 occupants on board the Toyota Hiace and 2 occupants in the Mercedes Truck were all killed and burnt beyond recognition.
The report revealed that the fatal crash was caused by excessive speed and route violation which is driving against traffic popularly referred to in local parlance as ‘One Way’.
“The Mercedes Benz Truck driver in violation of established traffic rules drove against traffic thereby colliding into the Toyota Hiace commercial Bus that was already on a high speed.
“As at the time of filing in this report, the Chairman Nkanu West Local Government Council has authorized the commencement of a mass burial for the burnt victims in the presence of the Nigeria Police Force, FRSC, and other sympathisers.
“The Corps Marshal, while reassuring the public of the Corps’ readiness to combat crashes on our roads, said that unfortunately, most of the crashes that have occurred would have been avoided if the motorists all played by the rules and exhibited a high level of compliance to traffic regulations.
“He, therefore, called on all road users to restrain from abusing traffic laws and always be safety conscious at all times.”
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