A devastating road accident has claimed six lives on the busy Awka-Onitsha Expressway in Anambra State. The fatal collision occurred on Friday night, November 28, when a passenger bus and a tipper truck collided head-on at the Nawfia axis near Enugu-Agidi Junction.
Tragic Details of the Fatal Collision
According to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the accident was triggered by reckless overtaking by the bus driver. The Anambra sector commander, Mrs Bridget Asekhauno, revealed to journalists that the bus was transporting passengers from Ebonyi to Onitsha after attending a Catholic Women Organisation burial ceremony.
The vehicles involved in the tragic incident were identified as a yellow and black tipper with registration number FGG21XV and a red bus registered as XQ398AA. An eyewitness account confirmed that the bus driver attempted dangerous overtaking maneuvers to make up for lost time, resulting in the catastrophic head-on collision with the oncoming tipper.
Casualty Figures and Emergency Response
The collision involved a total of 32 people across both vehicles, comprising nine men and twenty-three women. Tragically, the accident claimed the lives of two men and four women, while five women sustained various injuries. Twenty-one other passengers miraculously escaped without harm.
Emergency services responded promptly, transporting all victims to the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital in Amaku. Medical staff at the facility confirmed the six fatalities. FRSC officers quickly cleared the accident scene, restoring normal traffic flow along the critical expressway.
FRSC Issues Safety Warning
Mrs Asekhauno described the incident as entirely preventable and issued a strong warning to motorists. This tragic incident highlights the devastating consequences of reckless driving, she emphasized during her statement to press representatives.
The sector commander extended heartfelt sympathies to the families of the deceased and stressed the critical need for drivers to avoid aggressive overtaking practices. She reiterated the FRSC's commitment to enforcing traffic regulations, raising road safety awareness, and providing efficient emergency response services.
The Corps remains dedicated to its mission of reducing road accidents through continuous public education and strict enforcement of traffic laws across Nigerian highways.
