By Florencemary Nwabueze
ENUGU– A tragic multiple-vehicle collision along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway has claimed the lives of five people and left 18 others injured.
The crash occurred at approximately 3:18 p.m. near the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Plant on the Ugwu Onyeama axis, according to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
FRSC Route Commander Theophilus Okoduwa confirmed that 25 people were involved in the accident — 13 males and 12 females. Among the victims, 18 sustained injuries, including seven males and 11 females. Four males and one female lost their lives in the crash.
The vehicles involved in the collision included a Dongfeng trailer, a Mitsubishi L300 commercial bus, and a Honda car, Okoduwa said.
Emergency responders from the FRSC arrived at the scene within nine minutes of receiving the report at the Sector Command around 3:25 p.m., the commander added.
The injured victims were quickly evacuated to Tex Hospital at 9th Mile Corner for immediate medical treatment. The bodies of the five deceased were deposited at Ekochin Morgue, also located at 9th Mile, after being confirmed dead by medical officials.
Traffic was diverted along the busy expressway as rescue teams worked to clear the obstruction caused by the wreckage of the vehicles.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the crash may have been caused by wrongful overtaking and speeding, Okoduwa said.