15 burnt to death in Enugu highway bus, truck collision

By Ibironke Ariyo

A head-on collision between a passenger bus and a Mercedes truck on the Port Harcourt-Enugu Highway on Saturday evening resulted into the gruesome death of 15 travellers.

The travellers, who were all in the Toyota bus were burnt beyond recognition, according to a statement by spokesperson of FRSC, Assistant Corps Marshal Bisi Kazeem issued on Sunday in Abuja.

According to him, Kazeem stated that the accident took place at the Enugu end of the highway at about 8.20 p.m.

He said the fatal crash can be attributed to several factors including fatigue, which must have made one of the drivers to sleep on the wheels.

“The victims have been given mass burial. All obstructions have been cleared. Enugu State Fire Service already extinguished the fire in the bus.

“The fatal crash is blameable on several factors including fatigue, which must have made one of the drivers to sleep on the wheels,’’ he stated.

Kazeem quoted the FRSC Corps Marshal, Mr Dauda Biu as advising motorists to desist from night journeys to reduce fatalities from road crashes.

He added that Biu noted that most fleet operators and other vehicle owners, including private vehicle owners addicted to night journeys did so for selfish economic gains.

The FRSC boss observed that most night travellers indulged in overloading of vehicles with passengers and goods.

“Travellers should plan their journeys for the day time because when crashes occur away from FRSC rescue points, it is difficult to access help from other motorists at night,’’ Kazeem also quoted Biu as saying. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)