No less than 11 persons reportedly lost their lives on Sunday in a fatal auto-crash on Agulu lake bridge, Agulu Anaocha local government area of Anambra state.
Disclosing this to journalists, the Public Education Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Margret Onabe, said the accident, which involved three vehicles, occurred due to excessive speeding and wrong overtaking on the sloppy bridge.
According to her, “A fatal Road traffic crash Occurred at Agulu lake bridge by Awka-Ekwulobia Road today, 26th December 2021. The crash involved three vehicles. Probable cause of the fatal crash was attributed to wrongful overtaking and excessive speed.”
An eyewitness account said the driver of an L300 bus on top speed tried to overtake a Mack truck but instead collided with the truck.
The account noted that a shuttle bus conveying passengers also ran into the already collided vehicles.
Out of 20 people involved in the crash, 11 were killed, including 3 male adults, 1 female child, and 7 people trapped inside the L300 bus and burnt beyond recognition.
Five passengers from the shuttle bus were rescued alive and unhurt, while 4 others were left with injuries.
The injured victims were rushed to St Joseph hospital where 4 were confirmed dead by the doctor on duty and their corpses deposited at the hospital morgue.
The Sector Commander, Anambra State, Corps Commander Adeoye Irelewuyi, sympathised with the families of the dead victims and urged the public to ensure the road is clear before overtaking.
He enjoined the public to maintain stipulated speed limits and obey traffic rules and regulations at all times
