*5 Roasted
*’Prioritize Safety Over Speed’
By Sylvia Kodilichukwu, Enugu
Police in Enugu State said two separate auto crashes that occured today in the South-East state claimed 10 lives.
Ten others were hospitalized.
The State Police Command said both crashes occurred along the Ozalla/4-Corner axis of the dual-carriage Enugu/Port-Harcourt Expressway.
In a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the State Command, Daniel Ndukwe, the police said that the first accident, a multiple-vehicle crash, happened at about 9 a.m. on the Enugu inward-bound lane of the expressway.
A Howo truck, with inscriptions of Visco Investment Global, a firm, and laden with bags of white cement, was en route Abuja from Aba, Abia State, when it collided with a Toyota Corolla car that was attempting to overtake another truck on the same route.
A Foton bus and a Daihatsu Hijet mini bus, both driving against the traffic, were also caught up in the collision.
Sadly, the truck head and the Corolla car went up in flames, with five occupants of the car roasted to death.
A passenger in the mini bus was equally confirmed dead by the attending medical doctor.
Similarly, at about 3 p.m. on the same road, another fatal crash occurred. This time, the Command stated, it involved a Sino truck belonging to Global Investment and a tricycle.
The truck, laden with cement and driving against the traffic from Gariki-Enugu to Nenwe in Aninri Local Government Area (LGA), on the same Enugu inward-bound lane, rammed into the tricycle, leading to the death of the latter’s four occupants. They were rushed to the hospital but later confirmed dead.
Ten other persons, injured in both crashes, are currently receiving medical attention.
The State Commissioner of Police (CP), Mamman Bitrus Giwa, while mourning the tragic loss of lives and commiserating with families of the deceased, directed the State Motor Traffic Department (MTD) to carry out a diligent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accidents.
The CP described the crashes as avoidable and strongly cautioned drivers to exercise utmost care, especially during these ’ember’ months when road traffic usually increases and accidents are more frequent.
He reminded motorists that no journey is worth the loss of lives, urging them to shun recklessness, obey traffic rules, and prioritize safety over speed to prevent further tragedies.
PHOTO CAPTION: Wreckage of some of the vehicles.
