A gas tanker truck crashed with a commuter bus on Tuesday along the Owerri/Onitsha expressway in Imo State, killing 12 people—including four children—and injuring at least eight more.
A spokesman for the Imo State Police Command, Henry Okoye, confirmed the terrible accident in a statement. He said that the gas tanker, which had the registration number T 16716 LA and the NUPENG inscription, was traveling against traffic when it collided with the bus.
Okoye clarified that the commuter bus was transporting Jehovah’s Witnesses from Anambra State to Agwa village in Imo State for a church service.
Eight adults and four children lost their lives in the disaster, and eight others were injured to varied degrees. According to Okoye, the injured are being treated at Divine Hospital in Awo-Omamma, while the deceased have been transported to Ogbaku Mortuary.
Read Also: Lawyer tackles Senate over new position on Natasha’s suspension
The police, along with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other emergency personnel, have subsequently cleaned the debris and reopened the busy highway, Okoye continued.
He also said that an investigation has been started to find out what caused the tanker driver to make the risky maneuver against traffic.
Residents reported the tragedy produced pandemonium and anguish as the victims’ relatives hurried to the scene, according to Daily Trust. According to witnesses, the crash was horrifying, and several victims were left trapped in the debris until help arrived.
The Owerri/Onitsha expressway has reportedly seen a number of deadly collisions in recent years, which are frequently attributed to careless driving, a lack of road etiquette, and heavy-duty vehicles that operate without rigorous inspections.
Advocates for safety have redoubled their demands for improved traffic law enforcement and enhanced surveillance of articulated trucks in order to avert preventable tragedies.
