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From Geoffrey Anyanwu, Enugu
The Enugu State Police Command has confirmed the death of 11 passengers of the ill-fated 14-seater Kano-bound bus, Sunday night, at Akegbe-Ugwu, near Four-Corners, along Enugu-Port-Harcourt Expressway, Enugu.
The deceased were said to have been burnt beyond recognition when their vehicle, a Toyota Hiace bus with registration number KTG 41 XD, conveying 12 passengers from Owerri, Imo State, to Kano State, plunged into stationary Howo Sinotruk, at Akegbe-Ugwu and went up in flames.
Only one passenger was said to have survived in the accident, which occurred at about 9.30pm, on Sunday.
Confirming the accident, which was earlier reported on social media to be 13 yesterday, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe (DSP), said the number of casualties was 11.
He said: “Kindly be informed that there was a fatal motor accident on 30/10/2022, at about 9.30pm, involving a Toyota Hiace bus with reg. no. KTG 41 XD, conveying 12 passengers, traveling from Owerri, Imo State, to Kano State.
“The vehicle is reported to have plunged into a broken-down and stationary Howo Sinotruk, at Akegbe-Ugwu, along Enugu-Port-Harcourt Expressway and burst into fire, leading to 11 of the travellers suffering severe burns before emergency help could get to them. They were taken to the hospital and confirmed dead by doctors on duty.”
Ndukwe said further investigation has been initiated by the Motor Traffic Department (MTD) of the Command on the accident.
Meanwhile, there were varying versions of how the one survivor escaped, with some saying that he was rescued by sympathisers, while others alleged he jumped out through the window of the vehicle.
The survivor is, however, said to be receiving treatment at the Emergency Unit of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku-Ozalla, though unconscious.
