The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) sector command in Anambra says five women died when a container fell on a commercial bus at Odumodu junction on Nteje-Awka.

FRSC sector commander Adeoye Irelewuyi confirmed the incident in Awka on Friday.

He said the container fell off a trailer and crushed the nearby bus. Mr Irelewuyi said that the accident occurred at 7:30 a.m. as the driver tried to dodge a failed portion of the road.

“The fatal crash involved two unidentified drivers of a Mitsubishi L300 commercial bus with registration number XE245AWK and a commercial Daf/Leyland truck with number T-19094LA,” the sector commander said. 

He added, “According to eyewitnesses, the vehicles were headed to different locations: one to Awka and the other to Onitsha. When the vehicles got to the bad spot at the same time, and due to the weight of the container, it fell on the bus.”

He said 10 people (three male adults and seven female adults) were involved in the crash.

“Five women were killed. Two men and two women sustained injuries, while one man was rescued unhurt. The FRSC rescue team took the injured victims to Divine Care Hospital, Umunya, while the dead victims were taken to Chira Hospital for doctor’s confirmation before the bodies were deposited at New Jerusalem Mortuary in Nteje,” he said.

Mr Irelewuyi said efforts were ongoing to remove the obstruction created by the accident.

He sympathised with the families of the dead and wished the injured a quick recovery.

He urged motorists to drive with caution. 

(NAN)