The driver of an Abia Line Network Sienna vehicle, on Sunday, survived a fatal crash, but his passengers including two babies did not survive.
The Abia Police Command and the state Command of Federal Road Safety Corps have since confirmed the incident.
The incident happened near the Umuika Junction along the Enugu-Aba-Port Harcourt expressway on Sunday at about 12:45 pm while the Sienna was going from Abakaliki in Ebonyi State to Aba in Abia State.
According to an eyewitness, the driver of the Sienna bus was at high speed and lost control after falling asleep and hitting a truck before crashing into the bush, resulting in the deaths of all passengers and their babies, except him who miraculously survived.
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Efforts to get an official statement from the management of the transport company proved abortive as the General Manager, Mrs. Onyemachi Nwaogwugwu, was not available for her comments.
Reacting, the Police Public Relations Officer of Abia State Police Command, ASP Maureen Chinaka confirmed that the report of the incident had been received by her office, stating, “The accident scene has been visited and investigation is ongoing”.
However, the Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC Abia State Command, Mrs Ngozi Ezeoma, confirmed the incident in a press statement by the PRO Abia State Sector Command, C M Enyioko,
The statement said, “The Federal Road Safety Corps, Abia State Sector Command has confirmed that five not eleven persons as against Sunday’s reports, died from the crash that occurred at Egbelu Mbutu by Cherubim bus Stop, Isialangwa South LGA along Enugu-Portharcourt Expressway on 11 August 2024 at 1345hrs.
“The crash involving a Toyota Previa with registration number BKL 291 ZJ travelling to Enugu rammed into an unnumbered stationary Mack Truck. Eleven persons were involved in the crash, they included six male adults, two female adults and three male children.
“As at the time of the crash, four persons (two male adults and two male children) died on the spot, while three persons were injured.
“A rescue team from RS9.32 KM78 Aba Unit Command arrived at the accident scene within 10 minutes of notice and conducted the rescue operations. The injured victims were taken to Ronald Hospital, Umuikaa and the dead were deposited at the Mighty Moon Mortuary, close to Umuikaa Junction.
According to the statement, during a follow-up by the FRSC officials on Monday morning, it was confirmed that one male adult later died while in the hospital receiving treatment.
The development brings the number of deceased accident victims to five (three male adults and two male children) and injured victims to two persons (one male and one female).
The statement added, “The male victim was transferred to the Federal Medical Center, Umuahia, this morning for further medical treatment while the female victim remained in Roland Hospital, Umuikaa. Three adults and one child survived the crash without injuries, and the only surviving child has been handed over to Umuikaa Police Station.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the cause of the crash was fatigue. Update on the root cause of the crash will be communicated as soon as FRSC Crash Investigation Experts conclude the investigation”.
