Following a collision between a commercial bus and a truck carrying cement on the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway on Thursday, at least 10 people were feared dead.
The 18-seater bus with the Enugu registration number XL884 ENU collided with an approaching trailer carrying bags of cement at around 9 am near the CBN Bus Stop in Enugu.
Due to the rough spots on the other lane, the two vehicles were only using one lane.
The Nation learned that at least seven dead bodies were extracted from the wreckage of the vehicles by swiftly arriving road safety officials and bystanders.
More passengers who were confirmed dead upon arrival by medical personnel were taken to a nearby hospital along with other unconscious passengers.
One of the eyewitnesses, who spoke with our correspondent, said the vehicle, which loaded from Abakpa, in Enugu East local government was headed to New Market,. Enugu when the accident occurred.
“The driver whose name we have learnt is Simeon was coming from Abakpa and made attempt to overtake another vehicle in his front that was emitting too much smoke from it’s exhausts.
“As he made attempt to overtake the vehicle, the trailer was very close and the next thing we heard was a loud sound and the bus was completely damaged. I don’t know how many survived but I counted over 8 dead bodies on the floor,” an eyewitness Chukwudi said.
Many others attributed the avoidable crash to the poor state of the road which has forced many motorists to ply one-way.
The police, army and Road Safety Personnel are already on ground to control traffic and avoid any breakdown of law.
