By Jeff Agbodo

ABAKALIKI — Tragedy struck along the busy Abakaliki-Enugu Expressway on Thursday as three persons lost their lives and two others sustained injuries in a multiple-vehicle accident at the Ezillo Bridge axis in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

The crash involved a Toyota Sienna bus, two commercial buses and a Toyota RAV4 vehicle, with the Sienna reportedly plunging into a river after the collision.

Eyewitnesses said the accident occurred when the vehicles collided near the bridge, causing one of them to veer off the road and fall into the river below.

One of the eyewitnesses described the incident as horrific and expressed concern over the condition of the bridge and the delay in completing work on a second bridge in the area.

“It was a terrible accident. The Sienna vehicle overtook us near the local government headquarters before the collision occurred at the bridge. Two buses and a Toyota RAV4 were involved. The existing bridge has become a death trap,” the witness said.

According to him, the Sienna bus had departed from Abakaliki en route to Enugu and was fully loaded with passengers and goods when the accident occurred.

The witness added that occupants of the vehicle were trapped after it plunged into the river, while rescue efforts were ongoing.

Confirming the incident, the Ebonyi State Police Command Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu, said details of the crash would be made available later.

However, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in the state, Daniel Nnamdi Asanya, confirmed that three vehicles were involved in the accident.

He attributed the crash to wrongful overtaking on the narrow section of the road.

“It was a case of wrongful overtaking. One of the vehicles, in an attempt to avoid a head-on collision, plunged into the river,” Asanya said.

According to the FRSC commander, seven persons were involved in the crash, with three confirmed dead, two injured and two escaping unhurt.

“Three people died, two sustained injuries, while two others came out without injuries,” he stated.

Asanya lamented the increasing rate of reckless driving on Nigerian roads and urged motorists to exercise patience and obey traffic regulations.

“The message we continue to preach is that drivers should avoid reckless driving. Wrongful overtaking and speeding remain major causes of road crashes. If motorists maintain moderate speed, they will have a better chance of controlling their vehicles when they encounter hazards,” he said.

The FRSC boss reiterated the need for motorists to adhere strictly to road safety rules to prevent avoidable loss of lives and property.

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