No fewer than 14 male and two female adults lost their lives when their vehicle crashed into a fence and caught fire along the Enugu/Opi/Nsukka road late Tuesday.
The Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe disclosed this in a statement shared on the X page of the command on Wednesday.
The accident, according to Ndukwe, occurred when an 18-seater bus with a Bauchi number plate DAS 215 XA crashed into the fence of Maduka Maduka and went up in flames.
The impact of the crash and the intensity of the fire that occurred during the accident were said to have led to the death of 16 passengers while two others were rescued alive.
Ndukwe added that further investigation revealed that the vehicle was speeding before it lost control and rammed into the fence.
The statement read, “The Enugu State Police Command wishes to inform the public that a lone fatal motor accident occurred today, April 30, 2024, around 5:20 p.m., at Ekwegbe, along Enugu/Opi/Nsukka Road, claiming the lives of yet-to-be-identified 14 males and two females who burned beyond recognition.
“The accident involves an 18-seater white-coloured Toyota Hummer bus with a Bauchi State commercial registration number DAS 215 XA and the inscription “Masha Allah”, said to have been driven at high speed, lost control, and plunged into the fence of Maduka University along the road.
“A preliminary investigation reveals that the vehicle unfortunately burst into flames burning beyond recognition, the 16 deceased individuals, who were taken to the hospital and confirmed dead. However, two other passengers were rescued alive and taken to the hospital for medical attention by police officers, soldiers and public-spirited citizens, who immediately responded to the incident.”
The PPRO stated that further investigation revealed that the vehicle which was also loaded with vegetables, food items, and the luggage of the passengers, was heading towards Nsukka from the Enugu axis of the road but the point of take-off and final destination of the vehicle was yet to be ascertained.
Ndukwe, however, urged members of the public to come forward with information that can help in identifying the victims.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Kanayo Uzuegbu, in the company of officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps, has visited the scene to assess the situation and described the accident and the carnage therein as sad.
The CP further called on individuals that can help in identifying the victims or with information to trace the family members of the deceased to come forward with such information or call 08098880172 or 08086671202,” the statement concluded.