3rd December, 2023
Five persons lost their lives in an auto crash involving a Nissan Caravan and a Mark Truck, at about 3 pm on Saturday, along the Calabar-Itu Highway in Akwa Ibom.
11 other persons were injured in the ghastly occurrence. The Nissan Caravan had the registration number GWB532XY while the Mark Truck had no registration number.
A statement issued by the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety, Akwa Ibom Command, Mr Matthew Olonisaye, on Sunday, and signed by the Public Enlightenment Officer of the command, Mr Paul James, said the accident was avoidable but happened because of overspending.
The statement said: “A fatal crash occurred on Saturday, December 2, 2023, along Itu-Calabar road by Ayadehe at about 1510 hrs.
“The crash involved a Nissan Caravan with Registration number GWB532XY and a Mark Truck with NO registration number.
“Eleven males and five females were involved, and three out of the five females and two out of the eleven males involved were confirmed dead, while the remaining eleven males and females sustained injuries of various degrees.
“When the report of the incident was received, the FRSC operatives mobilised and moved over to attend to the situation. Upon arrival at the crash scene, the injured ones were moved to nearby hospitals for prompt medical attention, while the bodies of the deceased were deposited at the morgue.
“When inquiry was made as to the cause of the crash, it was gathered that the causal factor to the crash was Speed related according to eyewitnesses. After the evacuation of the victims, the road was cleared of the wreckages to enable free-flow of traffic”