The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has verified the fatality of a male passenger in a three-vehicle accident at Uzoakwa along Ihiala-Owerri Road in Anambra State.
Mr. Adeoye Irelewuyi, the FRSC Sector Commander in the state, shared this information with journalists in Awka on Thursday. Irelewuyi attributed the accident to wrongful overtaking and excessive speeding.
The collision involved unidentified drivers of a Nissan commercial bus, a trailer without a registration number, and a Mack trailer, also lacking a registration number.
“According to eyewitnesses, the bus driver stopped in front of Universal Bakery and was discharging passengers, while the two trailers were coming from behind at speed trying to overtake each other.
“As a result, the Mack trailer hit the bus, pushing it to an electric pole and the two trailers continued their journey without stopping.
“A total of 17 persons, including 13 male adults, and four female adults were involved in the crash.
“One male adult was killed. Three male adults and one female adult were injured while the other 12 were rescued unhurt.
“The victims were rushed to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Ihiala, by the FRSC rescue team while the dead victim was deposited at the hospital’s mortuary,” he said.
He commiserated with the family of the dead and wished the injured a quick recovery.
He called on motorists to desist from wrongful overtaking and drive within a safe speed limit they could control, urging commercial vehicles to park away from the road where it is safe to discharge passengers.
