10 feared dead as commuter bus ram into trailer in Enugu

Tragedy occured on Thursday morning in Enugu as a commuter bus loaded with passengers rammed into a trailer conveying bags of cement.

No fewer than 10 persons reportedly lost their lives in the fatal accident that occurred at Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Staff Quarters’ Bus stop, along the dilapidated Enugu-Onitsha expressway in Enugu state capital.

Guardian gathered that the bodies of the victims littered on the dual-carriage way  Thursday morning as passers-by made frantic efforts to take both the corpses and the survivors to a nearby hospital.

The accident occurred at about 9:45am when an 18-seater bus with registration number ENUGU -XL884 ENU ran into an incoming trailer carrying bags of cement.

The eyewitness said the commuter bus, which loaded from Abakpa, in Enugu East local government was heading to New Market when the fatal accident occurred.

“The driver of the bus identified as  Simeon was coming from Abakpa and made attempt to overtake another vehicle in his front that was emitting too much carbon monoxide.

“As he made attempt to overtake the vehicle, the trailer was very close and the next thing we heard was a loud sound and the bus was completely damaged. I don’t know how many survived but I counted over 8 dead bodies on the floor,” the eyewitness who gave his name as Chukwudi  Ugwu told the Guardian

Many however, attributed the avoidable crash to the poor state of the road which has forced many motorists to ply on one lane.

The Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Enugu, Joseph Toby, when contacted stated that he he “just left the hospital where the injured passengers are being treated”.

He pleaded for time to speak on the matter.