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From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
No fewer than three people lost their lives and others injured when vehicles plying the ever-busy Abakaliki/Enugu Expressway collided on the Ezillo Bridge axis of the highway.
The incident occurred on Tuesday evening immediately after Ishielu Local Government headquarters when traveling from Abakaliki.
Witnesses told Daily Sun that three vehicles were involved in the disaster, but one of them plunged into the river on the highway following the collision.
One Benjis Otubo said, “It was terrible accident. I wonder why the contractor handling the second bridge has not done anything on the project, even the existing one is a death trap.
This Sienna vehicle that plunged into the river overtook us at the LGA Headquarters before three of them collided at the bridge; two buses and one Toyota RAV4 are involved in the accident. May God help his people”.
Another witness, Emmanuel Nkwuda, said the Sienna vehicle that plunged into the river took off from Abakaliki and was fully loaded with passengers and goods when the tragedy occurred.
“This motor had loaded in Abakaliki and proceeded to Enugu. But on reaching Ezillo, it ran inside a river. As of the time it happened, nobody inside the motor could come out. They were still helpless inside the motor while people were trying to rescue them.
“Please, if you have anybody that left Abakaliki to Enugu this evening, call to confirm their safety. May God deliver them”.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu, confirmed the incident. He, however, promised to give details about the incident later.
But the state Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Daniel Nnamdi Asanya, said the incident was a multiple accident that involved three vehicles.
He further revealed that it was a case of wrong overtaking and that the scene was narrow without a dual carriage lane.
“It was a problem of wrongful overtaking, one of them trying to escape head on collision, plunged into the river. Seven people were involved. Three people died, two people injured, and two unscratched.
“The message we keep talking about is, why are people reckless? Why can’t people exercise patience? What is the problem?
“One is wrongful overtaking, second one speed violation. If you see a hazard and you are within a moderate speed, you can still control it”, he told Daily Sun.
