Six Lives Lost in Preventable Awka-Onitsha Expressway Tragedy
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed the death of six individuals following a devastating collision between a tipper and a bus along the busy Awka–Onitsha expressway. The fatal incident occurred on Friday night at the Nawfia axis, near the Enugu-Agidi Junction.
Details of the Fatal Collision
Mrs Bridget Asekhauno, the Anambra Sector Commander of the FRSC, provided journalists in Awka with a detailed account. She identified the vehicles involved as a yellow and black tipper with registration number FGG21XV and a red bus with registration XQ398AA.
The cause was attributed to reckless driving. According to an eyewitness account relayed by the Sector Commander, the bus was returning from a Catholic Women Organisation burial in Ebonyi, headed for Onitsha. In a bid to make up for lost time, the bus driver attempted a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre, which resulted in a catastrophic head-on collision with the oncoming tipper.
Casualty Figures and Emergency Response
The crash involved a total of thirty-two people – nine men and twenty-three women. Tragically, two men and four women lost their lives. The FRSC reported that five women sustained injuries, while twenty-one other occupants were fortunate to escape without any harm.
All victims were swiftly transported to the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital in Amaku, where medical personnel confirmed the deaths. FRSC operatives were quick to clear the accident scene, ensuring that normal traffic flow was restored along the critical expressway.
FRSC Issues Stern Warning to Motorists
Mrs Asekhauno described the event as a preventable tragedy. She extended the Corps' deepest sympathies to the families of the deceased and issued a strong warning to all road users.
"This tragic incident highlights the devastating consequences of reckless driving," she stated, urging drivers to always obey traffic laws, shun aggressive overtaking, and make safety their top priority. She reaffirmed the FRSC's commitment to enforcing traffic regulations, enhancing road safety awareness, and providing prompt rescue services during emergencies.
In a related development, the FRSC in Zamfara State has impounded 146 vehicles for overloading and arrested 22 drivers for attempting to bribe officers. Separately, a crash on the Oyo/Ogbomoso highway on Tuesday night claimed eight lives, with four survivors receiving treatment at the State Hospital in Oyo town.
