Two children, three others die in Abia auto crash

Two children and three other passengers were confirmed as casualties of a fatal auto crash on Sunday involving an Abia Line Network Sienna vehicle and a Mack truck near the Umuika Junction along the Enugu-Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway while the Sienna was going from Abakaliki in Ebonyi State to Aba in Abia State.

The Abia State Police Command and the state command of the Federal Road Safety Corps confirmed the casualty figure on Monday at a press briefing.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Maureen Chinaka, said the report of the incident was received by her office, stating, “The accident scene has been visited and investigation is ongoing.”

On her own part, the Sector Commander, FRSC Abia State Command, Mrs. Ngozi Ezeoma, in a press statement by the Assistant Route Commander, C. M. Enyioko, the PRO Abia State Sector Command, stated that “The Federal Road Safety Corps, Abia State Sector Command has confirmed that five not 11 persons as against Sunday’s reports, died from the crash that occurred at the Egbelu Mbutu by the Cherubim bus stop, Isiala Ngwa South LGA along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway on August 11, 2024, at 1345hrs.

“The crash involving a Toyota Previa with registration number BKL 291 ZJ travelling to Enugu rammed into an unnumbered stationary Mack truck. Eleven persons were involved in the crash, consisting of six male adults, two female adults and three male children.

“As of the time of the crash, four persons (two male adults and two male children) died on the spot, while three persons were injured.

“A rescue team from RS9.32 KM78 Aba Unit Command arrived at the accident scene within 10 minutes of notice and conducted the rescue operations. The injured victims were taken to the Ronald Hospital, Umuikaa and the dead were deposited at the Mighty Moon Mortuary, close to the Umuikaa Junction.”

According to her, “On a follow up by the FRSC officials this morning (Monday), it was confirmed that one male adult later died in while in the hospital receiving treatment. This development brings the number of deceased accident victims to five (three male adults and two male children) and injured victims to two persons (one male and one female).

“The male victim was transferred to the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, this morning for further medical treatment while the female victim remained in Roland Hospital, Umuikaa. Three adults and one child survived the crash without injuries, and the only surviving child has been handed over to the Umuikaa Police Station.”

He said a preliminary investigation revealed that the cause of the crash was fatigue while an update on the root cause of the crash would be communicated as soon as the FRSC Crash Investigation Experts concluded on the investigation.