By Jude Atupulazi
The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Anambra Sector, Corps Commander Joyce Nnennaya Alexander, has expressed condolences to families and victims of a fatal road crash along Nteje-Awka Route on April 27 which claimed eight lives.
The accident occurred at approximately 9pm along the Nteje-Awka Route, near the New Terminal close to Ukpo Junction.
A press statement signed by RC Margaret B Onabe, Sector Public Education Officer, FRSC Anambra Sector Command, April 27, quoting eyewitness accounts and preliminary investigations, stated that a Mack tanker without a registration number, collided with a Toyota Hiace bus, registered as EKP375XM.
The bus, which was travelling from Abakaliki to Onitsha, was said to be speeding and overtook dangerously before colliding with the tanker which was heading towards Awka on a single carriageway. The crash resulted in eight fatalities – four males and four females – with six others, comprising two males and 4 females, injured.
It said the FRSC Anambra Sector Commander extended her condolences to the families of the victims, while wishing speedy recovery to those injured. This was even as she urged drivers to prioritize their safety and that of others by maintaining a safe speed and ensuring that the road was clear before overtaking to prevent such tragic incidents.
‘Drivers must ensure they drive at a minimum safe speed and only overtake when the road is clear,’ emphasized the Sector Commander.
The rescue team from RS5.33 Nteje attended to the injured victims, transporting them to the hospital for treatment, while the deceased were taken to Jerusalem Mortuary, Nteje, after confirmation by a doctor.
The Sector Commander later visited the crash scene, inspecting the crashed vehicles at Nteje Police Station, and meeting with the NUPENG Chief of Taskforce. She also visited the surviving victims at Regina Caeli Hospital and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital to assess their condition and offer support.
The FRSC Anambra Sector Command reassured the public of its continued efforts to promote road safety awareness, enforce traffic regulations, and collaborate with relevant stakeholders to create a safer road environment for all users.
