7 die in auto crash

The death toll from the ghastly motor accident which occurred at the Nkalagu junction of the Enugu-Abakaliki express road on Friday, has reached seven.

Mr Charles Aborchi, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission in Ebonyi, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abakaliki on Saturday.

This followed his earlier confirmation of the death of three persons in the crash on Friday.

``The hospital authorities informed us that the death toll has reached seven – five male and two female passengers.

``The dead victims have been deposited at the Annunciation Hospital in Emene, Enugu, while the injured are receiving treatment at the same hospital”, he said.

He advised motorist to drive carefully as reckless driving had resulted in wasteful loss of lives on the roads.

``Over speeding causes death as drivers suddenly attempt to stop the vehicles and when this fails, the result is mostly fatal’’, he said.

An eye witness simply identified as Chibuzor told NAN that the accident involved two 14-seater buses travelling in opposite directions and were on speed.

``I was inside a vehicle going to Abakaliki from Enugu. One of the buses attempted to overtake a smaller vehicle also going to Abakaliki.

``The bus driver did not see an oncoming bus. He lost control and this resulted in a fatal head-on collision of the buses.

``All the cars travelling at that time stopped to rescue the victims.

Mrs Edith Alegu, an indigene of the area, rued the spate of accidents which occur on the road.

``When the road was impassible, drivers used to be cautious but with its present rehabilitation, drivers go on top speed as if there is no tomorrow”, she said.