FIVE persons yesterday lost their lives in an auto crash involving a luxury bus and a Mercedes Benz 911 bus along the Anwai-Illah road, near Asaba, the Delta State capital. 23 others sustained varying degrees of injuries in the accident, which eyewitnesses said happened at about 4am.
The remains of the dead victims were deposited at the mortuary of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba, while the injured were taken to two hospitals- St. Joseph Catholic Hospital and St. Rebecca Hospital. The Director of Operations, Delta State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mrs. Uche Chukwurah, said of the 35 persons involved in the accident, seven persons were unhurt.
She said the luxury bus, belonging to a renowned private transport company;’ Young Shall Grow’ was coming from Port Harcourt enroute Abuja when the accident occurred. Mrs. Chukwurah attributed the accident to speed limit violation, adding that both motorists were traveling at very odd hours, and urged other motorists to always adhere to traffic rules and avoid night travels. Meanwhile, 21 officers of the state command of the FRSC who were recently promoted have been decorated with their new rank at a brief ceremony in Asaba where the Sector Commander, Rindom Kumven urged them to remain dedicated to the service of the nation.