The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ebonyi said it rescued 12 victims from an accident which occurred along Abakaliki/Ogoja (Cross River) Federal highway on February 18.

The FRSC Ebonyi Sector Commander, Uche Chukwurah, said in Abakaliki on Tuesday that the personnel of the command conveyed the rescued victims to Alex Ekwueme Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki.

The sector commander said the accident occurred at the Teachers Training College (TTC) end of the road as the victims sustained various degrees of injuries.

“We had a follow-up exercise on Feb.19 and can report that the victims are responding to treatment with some already discharged,” she said.

She said that the command could not confirm the number of deaths from the crash because it only saw the injured victims who were rescued.

“The accident involved a bus and a Toyota Sienna vehicle and we discovered that the bus was burnt.

“The occupants of the bus were already burnt beyond recognition so we couldn’t confirm the number that died.

“The crash was suspectedly caused by speeding,” Mrs Chukwurah said.

A witness who spoke on condition of anonymity said the bus was heading to Taraba from Rivers.

“The bus lost control after being hit by a motorcycle and in the process, had a head-on with the Sienna vehicle.

“The bus somersaulted and burst into flames,’’ he said.

(NAN)