At least eleven people, including two infants, tragically lost their lives on Sunday in a devastating road accident near Umuika Junction along the Enugu-Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway in Abia State.
The crash occurred around 12:45 pm when a Sienna car, operated by Abia Line Network, collided with a fully loaded truck.
According to The PUNCH, an eyewitness reported that the accident was caused when the driver of the Sienna vehicle allegedly fell asleep at the wheel.
This lapse led to the vehicle losing control and veering into the path of the oncoming truck before both vehicles careened off the road into a nearby bush.
An eyewitness to the tragic incident, Ochiegbu Marvelous, described the scene as horrific. “It was a terrible experience,” Ochiegbu recounted to ABN TV. “I saw the wreckage and the victims, and I informed the FRSC about what had happened.”
The impact of the collision was catastrophic, leading to the immediate death of eleven individuals, including two babies.
Several other passengers sustained injuries of varying severity, adding to the grim toll of the crash.
In the wake of the accident, Ochiegbu acted swiftly, contacting the Federal Road Safety Corps to alert them to the tragedy.
His quick thinking ensured that emergency services were promptly informed, although it is unclear how quickly they were able to respond.
As of the time of filing this report, neither the Abia State Police Command nor the Federal Road Safety Corps has issued an official statement regarding the accident.
The lack of comments from these authorities has left many unanswered questions about the circumstances leading up to the crash.
The incident has cast a pall of sorrow over the community, with residents and passersby expressing their shock and grief at the loss of lives, especially those of the innocent infants.
The road, notorious for accidents, is once again in the spotlight, raising concerns about driver safety and the condition of vehicles plying this busy route.
