The Federal Road Safety Corps has confirmed the deaths of five persons in a multiple-vehicle accident at the Ugwuonyeama axis of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway on Thursday.

FRSC route commander, Theophilus Okoduwa, confirmed the fatal crash in Enugu. Mr Okoduwa said the multiple-vehicle accident, which involved a trailer, commercial bus, and a car, happened near the LNG Plant in Ugwu-Onyeama.

He said the accident, which happened at about 3:18 p.m., involved 25 people, including 13 males and 12 females. Eighteen people, including seven males and 11 females, were injured. He said that four males and one female died due to the impact of the crash.

Mr Okoduwa said that the vehicles involved were a Dongfeng trailer, a Mitsubishi L300 commercial bus and a Honda car.

“Within nine minutes of reporting the incident to the FRSC sector command at about 3:25 p.m, our officers and marshals, as well as patrol vehicles and an ICU ambulance, arrived at the scene. The injured victims were taken to nearby Tex Hospital, 9th Mile Corner, for immediate medical attention, while after confirmation from medical officials, the remains of the five deceased were deposited at Ekochin Morgue, 9th Mile.

“We have diverted traffic and efforts are still ongoing to clear the obstruction caused by the wreckage of the vehicles involved in the multiple crash,” he said.

Mr Okoduwa said that preliminary investigations suggest the multiple-vehicle accident may have been caused by wrongful overtaking and speeding.

(NAN)