A fatal accident involving an 18-seater bus and an articulated crane has led to the death of a pregnant woman, two children and seven others Tuesday in Abakiliki, Ebonyi State.The crane it was believed belonged to a Chinese construction firm in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital.
The incident took place at about 8.45a.m at Ogbe-Awusa junction along the ever-busy Onueke-Afikpo Federal Highway when the bus, belonging to the Ezza South Mass Transit with registration number, NKE, 28LG rammed into the crane lorry which was making a U- turn on the road.
The ill fated bus was said to have loaded from Onueke, Ezza South council headquarters coming to Abakaliki when the incident occurred.
Men of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ebonyi Sector Command were seen at the scene trying to save some of the victims, although it was gathered that the bus driver died on the spot.
An eyewitness account said that “accidents usually happen all the time at this Ogbe-Awusa junction. The truck was trying to turn all the way from Spera in Deo junction but the bus driver was on a very high speed and could not exercise patience, just like other commuters who parked and waited for the lorry to complete its turning but, because the driver was on speed, he rammed into the crane resulting in this number of casualties.” Observers at the scene also lamented that it was painful that many passengers died in an accident many believed was avoidable.
Another eye witness said: “The impatience of the driver led to this accident. The most painful thing was the death of a woman and her two kids who died instantly at the scene. I was just coming out from my house and on getting to this junction, this crane was turning when the bus rammed into it.”
Meanwhile, when contacted, Caretaker Committee Chairman of Ezza South Council Area, Mr. Joseph Egede confirmed the incident and said the survivors had been taken to the Federal Teaching Hospital (FETHA), Abakaliki, for treatment while the dead have been deposited at the mortuary.
-Emmanuel Ikechukwu
