At least six people have died after a truck transporting foodstuffs lost control and overturned at the Ugwu-Onyeama section of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway in Enugu State.
The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Enugu State, Franklin Agbakoba, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday.
This latest accident comes less than a month after a tragic fuel tanker explosion at the same location claimed the lives of 23 people.
According to Agbakoba, the crash occurred around 8 a.m. on Thursday.
FRSC personnel responded swiftly to a distress call and arrived at the scene, where they rescued three injured victims and transported them to the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Parklane, for medical treatment.
Providing details of the accident, Agbakoba explained that the truck, which was carrying vegetables, fruits, and some traders, was moving at high speed when the driver lost control, causing it to overturn.
“The accident involved nine people — eight adult males and one adult female.
“Five male adults and one female adult were confirmed dead at the scene, while the FRSC rescue team took three injured male adults to ESUTH, Parklane, Enugu, for medical attention.
“The Muslim faithful in the truck took the bodies of five Muslim victims for burial, while relatives of the deceased woman collected her remains,” he said.
Agbakoba described the crash as a lone accident involving only the truck, attributing the cause to excessive speed and brake failure.
“It is unfortunate, and we pray that God consoles the families and friends of those who lost their loved ones in this tragic incident,” he added.
