Auto crash claims four lives in Abia

Not fewer than four persons have been reportedly killed in a ghastly car accident involving four vehicles in the Enugu Portharcourt expressway in Ubakala Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia state. The four victims were confirmed dead at the Federal Medical Centre [FMC], Umuahia where they were rushed to for medical attention with the injured.

The four vehicles are Toyota Hilux van with registration number CG 539 RSH, a Peugeot J5 bus marked No XA 874 AKW, a Mercedes Benz tipper with registration number EGG 555 YG and a commercial bus which had been reportedly towed away before the arrival of newsmen to the scene.

One of the injured victims, Abubakar who spoke on his hospital bed, alleged that over speeding on the side of the Hilux van driver caused the accident.

He said: We were four in the J5 bus traveling from Lafia, Nasarawa state to Aba in Abia state to sell bags of oranges and garden eggs. Three of my friends, Huseini Tanko, Imamu Abubakar, and Ibrahim Abubakar and i were in the bus. 

The accident occurred when the vehicle in front of our own suddenly applied brake while trying to dodge an oncoming Hilux van which was about to overtake a tipper in front of it. 

The bus in front of our vehicle lost control and skidded into the bush. Our bus rammed into it, our bus somersaulted and later caught fire. The Toyota Hilux van also rammed into the tipper it was about to overtake.

Unfortunately. one of our friends died, while two of us were injured. But one of us did not even sustain any injury.

An official of the Federal Road Safety Commission[FRSC] who pleaded anonymity, confirmed the accident. He added that the Commission would make its official position after the conclusion of their investigation.