Five people, including a child, have been confirmed dead while 12 others sustained injuries in a road accident along the Nkalagu axis of the Enugu–Abakaliki Federal Highway in Ebonyi State.
The crash occurred at Edema Bridge, Nkalagu, in Ishielu Local Government Area on Friday, involving a commercial Toyota Hiace bus travelling from Abakaliki to Enugu.
The Ebonyi State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Daniel Asanya, confirmed the incident during an interview in Abakaliki.
According to him, the vehicle, with registration number RSH 231 XE, was carrying 17 passengers comprising 12 males, four females, and one female child when the accident happened.
Asanya revealed that five passengers — four males and a female child — lost their lives, while 12 others, including eight males and four females, were injured.
He identified excessive speed as the suspected cause of the crash, stating that preliminary investigations showed that speed violation contributed to the accident.
“Investigations indicate that speeding was responsible for the crash,” the FRSC commander said.
Items recovered from the scene included three mobile phones, two bags containing personal belongings, and a quarter bag of rice.
The injured victims were rescued and taken to Annunciation Hospital, Emene, Enugu State, where they are receiving medical attention, while the remains of the deceased have been deposited in a morgue.
The FRSC Sector Commander advised motorists to drive carefully, especially on parts of the Enugu–Abakaliki road undergoing construction and rehabilitation.
He also appealed to the contractor handling the road project to provide proper reflective and illuminated warning signs to guide motorists and reduce road crashes.
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