At least six persons have been confirmed dead in an auto crash involving a truck and a commercial bus along the Enugu –Port Harcourt Expressway.
The truck with number plate; GME 838 XX , was said to have crushed the bus with number plate, EZA 467 YF, at about 6pm, as they struggled for the right of way at a dilapidated portion of the road at Amavo junction, Osisioma Ngwa council area of Abia State.
Vanguard observed that the two lanes of the dual carriage way had been dilapidated as motorists wade through gullies and flood whenever it rains, leading to traffic congestion. The other lane of the dual carriage way was closed to traffic by the Arab Contractors Construction company handling the rehabilitation of the road.
Eyewitnesses told Vanguard that the bus loaded with about 15 passengers was damaged beyond repairs as men of the Federal Road Safety Corps, and sympathizers, struggled to separate the dead from the injured.
Unit Commander, RS9.32, Kilometre 78, Assistant Corps Commander, Ezenwa Basil, said five passengers died at the scene of the crash while one later died at the hospital.
Ezenwa, who disclosed that other injured passengers are now receiving medical attention, blamed the crash on the dilapidated condition of the road as well as the closure of the other by the construction company.
He said, “This is the second auto crash in two weeks on the same spot. This is due to the dilapidated condition of the road. Only a lane of the road is being used by motorists while the other has been closed to traffic by the construction company.
‘’Even the only lane has been dilapidated that motorists now struggle for the right of way, leading to crashes. People have continued to lose their lives due to the dilapidated condition of the lane. We are appealing to the construction company to hasten their work and reopen the other lane to save lives. People are dying daily.”
The Assistant Corps Commander urged motorists to embrace safety tips and avoid over speeding, assuring that FRSC is committed to the safety of all motorists.
When Vanguard visited the area, the wreckage of the bus and truck were still at the scene of the crash, even as no rehabilitation work was ongoing at the other lane closed to traffic.
