The Cross River command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has said nine persons died when a truck ran into two buses and another truck on the Odukpani axis of the Calabar Ikom highway.
The truck was said to be speeding towards Calabar, the state capital, when it ran into traffic and veered into the opposite lane.
FRSC’s Commander Ikechukwu Igwe said nine persons died in the accident.
He said: “The actual number of persons that died in that accident was nine. Seven died on the spot and we took the bodies to the mortuary in Calabar. Two others later died at the General Hospital in Akamkpa. On the whole, nine persons died. There are six survivors.
“It took us almost three hours to remove the driver, who caused the accident, from his truck, because he was trapped. Four other persons in one of the buses came down to see the cause of the traffic. That was how they were saved.
“The people who were killed were inside the buses. Those who died instantly were the drivers of the Toyota Sienna and Toyota Picnic as well as five passengers. Four vehicles were involved in the accident.
“The impatient driver left his lane, probably lost control and ran into the Sienna and Picnic before colliding with another truck coming from the opposite direction. The cause of the accident was impatience.”
The FRSC sector commander said the truck driver was in a terrible condition.