20th September, 2012
A ghastly motor accident that occurred at Ubulu-Okiti Junction, along the Benin Onitsha expressway, near Asaba on Wednesday claimed the lives of five persons believed to be members of the same family.
The victims, the husband who was said to be driving the vehicle, his pregnant wife, two of their children (male and female) and a steward who perished in the unfortunate incident, were believed to have been travelling to Awka in Anambra State from Ekiti State when the Toyota Hilux vehicle in which they were travelling lost one of its tyres.
An eyewitness said the vehicle skidded-off the road and somersaulted several times.
An octogenarian believed to be matriarch of the family and a young girl said to be the daughter of the dead couple who survived the accident are currently receiving treatment at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Asaba, while the bodies of the dead victims were evacuated by officials of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and deposited at the FMC in Asaba.
Officials of the FRSC declined comments when approached by our correspondent and referred the newspaper to the Sector Commander’s office in Asaba, while the Delta State Police Command image maker, Charles Muka could not be reached for comment as his mobile phone was switched off when P.M.NEWS called him.
—Jethro Ibileke/Asaba