By Isaac Mission
Five people have died while 18 others sustained injuries following a multiple-vehicle accident along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway in Enugu State.
The crash occurred on Thursday at about 3:18 p.m. around the Ugwu-Onyeama axis, near the LNG Plant, according to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
The FRSC route commander, Theophilus Okoduwa, who confirmed the incident, said the accident involved a Dongfeng trailer, a Mitsubishi L300 commercial bus and a Honda car.
He disclosed that 25 people were involved in the crash, comprising 13 males and 12 females. Of the 25 victims, 18 sustained injuries, while five others—four males and one female—lost their lives.
Okoduwa said FRSC personnel responded quickly after receiving the distress call.
According to him, officers, marshals, patrol vehicles and an ICU ambulance arrived at the scene approximately nine minutes after the incident was reported to the sector command at about 3:25 p.m.
The injured victims were subsequently evacuated to Tex Hospital at 9th Mile Corner for medical treatment, while the bodies of the deceased were taken to Ekochin Morgue, 9th Mile, after being certified by medical personnel.
The FRSC official added that traffic had been diverted as efforts continued to remove the damaged vehicles and restore normal movement along the affected section of the expressway.
He said preliminary findings indicated that wrongful overtaking and excessive speed may have contributed to the collision.
Authorities are expected to continue investigations into the circumstances surrounding the fatal accident.