The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has rescued 25 individuals from a road crash that occurred at Ugwu Onyeama on the Enugu-Onitsha expressway, Enugu.
In response to the incident, FRSC Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed has called for an investigation and the swift prosecution of the driver responsible for the crash.
This information was provided in a statement by the Corps Public Education Officer, Corps Commander Olusegun Ogungbemide, on Wednesday in Abuja. The accident took place around 7:00 PM.
Preliminary reports indicate that the crash was caused by a speed violation. Seven vehicles were involved, including a black Toyota Matrix (plate number ENU742NL), a white Suzuki Hijet mini bus (plate number ENU982XY), a custom Toyota Highlander (plate number JRV247HK), a blue Toyota Corolla (plate number UWN16AP), a Toyota RAV4, a red Mack tanker, and a Mazda vehicle.
FRSC emergency rescue teams reported that the crash involved a total of 29 people, comprising 20 male adults and 9 female adults.
“From the number, 10 victims comprising eight male adults and two females sustained varying degrees of injury. Unfortunately, four victims were killed as a result of the crash. The FRSC investigation report indicates that of the four fatalities recorded, two victims were killed on the spot while the remaining two died in the hospital. The injured victims were rescued to orthopaedic hospital, Enugu while the dead bodies have been deposited in Park Lane hospital morgue.’’
The corps marshal reaffirmed the position of the corps on deepening its ongoing prosecution of drivers who by their actions caused road traffic crashes in Nigeria.
He however, noted that the driver responsible for the Ugwu Onyeama crash would not be spared.
The FRSC boss called on the judiciary, leadership of transport unions and other relevant stakeholders in the road transportation sector to join hands with the corps towards restoring sanity on the roads.
This, he said, would be through speedy and effective prosecution of traffic violators, especially those who caused crashes on the roads.
The corps marshal had during his inaugural address to the media drawn the attention of road users to issues of imbibing moral and ethical rebirth, which had become a major issue in the country.
He also warned against traffic violations, citing instances where they resulted in avoidable crashes with fire outbreaks, leading to wanton loss of lives and destruction of property.
According to him, there is no going back on prosecuting erring drivers.
