Eight dead, six injured in Anambra road crash involving bus and tanker — FRSC

DDM News

A fatal accident involving a commercial bus and a fuel tanker has claimed the lives of eight people in Anambra State.

According to Diaspora digital media (DDM) reports, the tragic incident occurred on Sunday night at Ukpo Junction, along the Nteje-Awka Road.

According to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the crash resulted from excessive speeding and dangerous overtaking.

Mrs. Joyce Alexander, the Anambra State Sector Commander of the FRSC, confirmed the accident to reporters on Monday in Awka.

She explained that the collision involved a Mack tanker with no registration number and a Toyota Hiace bus registered as EKP375XM.

The bus was traveling from Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, towards Onitsha, one of the largest commercial hubs in the southeast.

Eyewitness accounts and early investigations revealed that the bus driver attempted to overtake another vehicle at high speed.

This reckless move led to a head-on collision with the oncoming tanker, which was heading towards Awka.

The Nteje-Awka Road is known for being a single carriageway, increasing the risk of accidents due to limited space and poor visibility.

Road safety along this stretch has remained a growing concern for years due to increased traffic and the frequent presence of heavy-duty vehicles.

Mrs. Alexander disclosed that the crash led to the immediate death of eight people — four males and four females.

Six others, including two men and four women, sustained serious injuries during the collision.

A rescue team from the FRSC’s Nteje Unit arrived promptly to offer first aid and transport victims to nearby hospitals.

The injured victims were taken to Regina Caeli Hospital and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital, both located in Awka.

Doctors at both facilities began treatment immediately in a bid to save the lives of the surviving victims.

Meanwhile, the bodies of the deceased were moved to Jerusalem Mortuary in Nteje after being confirmed dead by medical personnel.

Mrs. Alexander visited the injured at the hospitals to assess their condition and provide emotional support.

She also extended condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the tragic event.

In response to the accident, the FRSC Sector Commander held a meeting with the taskforce chief of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).

The discussion focused on collaborative strategies to reduce future occurrences of similar accidents on Nigerian roads.

She emphasized that safety regulations must be taken seriously by all drivers, especially those operating commercial and long-distance vehicles.

Alexander called for increased caution among motorists, urging them to avoid speeding and to practice safe overtaking habits.

She warned that overtaking on narrow and busy roads could have deadly consequences, as seen in the recent tragedy.

The FRSC continues to carry out public enlightenment campaigns on safe driving across Anambra State and other parts of the country.

Sunday’s crash adds to a growing number of fatal road accidents reported in Nigeria in recent months.

Many of these incidents are caused by human errors such as over-speeding, mechanical faults, and disregard for traffic rules.

The FRSC has repeatedly stressed the importance of strict compliance with road safety laws to protect lives.

Anambra State, being a busy transit point between the South-East and South-South regions, sees a high volume of vehicular movement daily.

Experts believe that improved road infrastructure, better driver training, and stricter enforcement of traffic rules could help reduce fatalities.

As investigations into the Ukpo Junction crash continue, authorities are calling for greater vigilance on the part of drivers and transport operators.

The Sector Commander reaffirmed the FRSC’s commitment to ensuring safer highways through continuous monitoring, public education, and stakeholder engagement.

She concluded by appealing to all road users to prioritize human lives over haste and reckless driving decisions.

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