Two babies, three others die in Abia crash

Two infants were among the passengers in the Abia Line Network Sienna car that the driver of on Sunday died in, although the other passengers did not.

Since then, the incidence has been validated by the state Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps and the Abia Police Command.

On Sunday, at around 12:45 p.m., an incident occurred close to the Umuika Junction on the Enugu-Aba-Port Harcourt motorway, when the Sienna was travelling from Abakaliki in Ebonyi State to Aba in Abia State.

An eyewitness claimed that the driver of the Sienna bus lost control while travelling at a fast rate of speed, struck a truck, and crashed into a bush. All of the passengers and their infants perished in the collision, save for the driver, who amazingly escaped.

The general manager of the transport company, Mrs. Onyemachi Nwaogwugwu, was unavailable to speak, therefore attempts to obtain an official statement from her proved fruitless.

In response, ASP Maureen Chinaka, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Abia State Police Command, stated that "the accident scene has been visited and investigation is ongoing," confirming that her office has received the event report.

However, in a press release issued by the PRO Abia State Sector Command, C M Enyioko, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC Abia State Command, Mrs. Ngozi Ezeoma, verified the occurrence.

According to the statement, "The Federal Road Safety Corps, Abia State Sector Command, has confirmed that five people, not eleven, as reported on Sunday, died in the crash that occurred at Egbelu Mbutu by Cherubim bus Stop, Isialangwa South LGA along Enugu-Portharcourt Expressway on 11 August 2024 at 1345hrs."
"A Toyota Previa going to Enugu with registration number BKL 291 ZJ collided with an unnumbered Mack truck that was halted. Six adult males, two adult females, and three adult male children were among the eleven people involved in the crash.

"As of the moment of the collision, three people were hurt and four people—two adult males and two adult male children—died instantly.

After being notified of the accident, a rescue crew from RS9.32 KM78 Aba Unit Command arrived at the scene in less than ten minutes and carried out the rescue operations. Near Umuikaa Junction, at the Mighty Moon Mortuary, are the remains of the deceased, while the injured were brought to Ronald Hospital in Umuikaa.

As per the statement, after an investigation conducted by FRSC personnel on Monday morning, it was confirmed that one male adult later died while in the hospital receiving treatment.
The 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 statement added, “The male victim was transferred to the Federal Medical Center, 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 Umuikaa Police Station.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the cause of the crash was fatigue. Update on the root cause of the crash will be communicated as soon as FRSC Crash Investigation Experts conclude the investigation”.