Five persons on Tuesday night died in an accident along Enugu-Awka-Onitsha expressway at Awka the Anambra State capital.
The victims including two Reverend sisters, a driver conveying them and a couple
The victims died following a head on collision between two vehicles, a Toyota Hiace and a Toyota Highlander at Nawfia axis of the expressway.
It was gathered that the Reverend Sisters, until their sudden deaths were Principal and Bursar of Handmaid’s Secondary School, Amansea, Awka North Local Governmemt Area respectively.
The accident occurred when they were returning to Amansea in the school’s Toyota Hiace bus in which they were traveling from Ifite-Ogwari, Ayamelum Local Government Area.
They were said to have gone to Amansea to purchase bags of rice for the school when their vehicle had the fatal collision with the Highlander.
The couple who died in a Toyota Highlander were identified as Mr Emmanuel Okeke, a former Anambra State Government Storekeeper, and the wife.
A man who identified himself as Mr Ifeanacho Okeke from Nsugbe, Anambra East Local government area
told The Network that he started a search for the couple when they could not reach his brother and the wife on the phone
An eyewitness, Mr. Chinecherem Okonkwo from Nawfia, Njikoka LGA, said he arrived the accident scene yesterday (Tuesday) night during a light rainfall.
He disclosed that the vehicles were still burning during the late hours of the night when no help could be rendered in the situation.
Some Reverend Fathers and Sisters were seen at the accident scene discussing in low tones, while others helped in taking the vehicles off the single lane of the Expressway for free flow of traffic.
The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in the state, Mr. Irelewuyi Adeoye when contacted on Wednesday confirmed the incident.
Also, DRC Margaret B Onabe, the Acting Sector Public Education Officer for Sector Command, Anambra State FRSC said the two vehicles were burnt completely with occupants in them.
“Unidentified driver of a Toyota Highlander with registration number: BMR570BE and a Toyota Hiace Bus with no registration number was involved in a Fatal road traffic crash in the early hours of today 13th April, 2022 at about 06:30hrs.”
The statemwnt pointed out that eyewitness report said the bus driver was on speed, lost control, and rammed into the Highlander from behind, crashed and the both vehicles caught fire.
Onabe explained that five people comprising 2male adults and 3 female adults were involved in the crash.
As at the time of filling this report, the fire service has been able to put off the fire.
“The FRSC Rescue team from RS5.3 Sector Command Awka are on ground managing traffic and ensuring obstruction caused by the crash is removed.”
The Sector Commander Anambra State Corps Commander Adeoye Irelewuyi commiserated with the families of the victims and offered his prayers to the victims repose souls.
He warned Anambra State motorists to avoid speeding and ensure they keep to recommended speed limit.
