FRSC confirms 11 dead in another Abia road crash

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Abia has confirmed the death of 11 persons in a road crash on the Port Harcourt-Enugu expressway. In a statement signed by its Sector Commander in Umuahia, Mrs Ngozi Ezeoma, FRSC said eight others sustained injuries in the crash.

Ezeoma said the crash occurred at the Arongwa village axis of the expressway, opposite Arab Contractors Construction Company, on Wednesday at about 12:45 p.m.
The sector commander stated that a preliminary investigation revealed that the cause of the crash was excessive speed.

She said the crash involved a Nissan Caravan commercial bus and a Howo commercial truck. The bus, conveying 19 people (eight male adults and 11 female adults) to Enugu, rammed into the truck.

“A combined rescue team from FRSC RS 9.31 Aba and RS 9.32 km78 Aba Unit commands arrived within five minutes of notice to conduct rescue operations. At the time of the crash, 10 persons (five male adults and five female adults) were injured, while nine persons (four male adults and five female adults) died on the spot.

“The injured victims were taken to Ronald Hospital, Umuikaa, and Living Word Hospital, Aba, while the dead victims were taken to Alanwemadu and Peace Mortuary, Aba.

“During a hospital follow-up on the crash victims, it was discovered that one male adult and one female adult eventually died, while one of the victims was referred to the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia.

“With this latest event, 11 persons (five male adults and six female adults) are confirmed dead, and eight persons (four male adults and four female adults) are confirmed injured.”

Ezeoma stated that further updates on the cause of the crash would be made public as soon as investigations are concluded. The incident occurred a few days after another road crash claimed five lives on the same route.