The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has rescued 25 road traffic crash victims alive from the avoidable road traffic crash that occured at Ugwu Onyeama on the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway on 11 June, 2024 at 1900HRS as Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed directs full investigation and speedy prosecution of the driver responsible for the fatal crash.
The preliminary crash investigation report, according to a statement signed by the Public Education Officer, Corps Commander Olusegun Ogungbemide, and made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), revealed that the crash which was caused by speed violation involved 7 vehicles comprising of a black Toyota Matrix bearing the following registration details ENU742NL, a white Suzuki Hijet mini bus ENU982XY, a Custom Toyota Highlander jeep JRV247HK, and a blue Toyota Corolla with registration number UWN16AP.
Others are one Toyota Rav 4, one Red Mack Tanker and one Mazda vehicle.
Meanwhile, FRSC emergency rescue teams deployed to carry out rescue operations reported that the crash involved a total of 29 people comprising of 20 male adults and 9 female adults. From the number, 10 victims comprising of 8 male adults and 2 females sustained different degrees of injuries.
Unfortunately, four victims were killed as a result of the crash. FRSC investigation indicates that of the four fatalities recorded, two victims were killed on the spot while the remaining two died in the hospital.
The injured victims were rescued to orthopedic hospital, Enugu while the dead have been deposited in Park Lane Hospital morgue.
Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed reaffirmed the position of the Corps on deepening its ongoing prosecution of drivers who by their actions cause road traffic crashes in Nigeria, noting that the driver responsible for the Ugwu Onyeama crash will not be spared.
As such, he called on the Judiciary, leadership of transport unions and other relevant stakeholders in the road transportation sector to join hands with the Corps towards restoring sanity through speedy and effective prosecution of traffic violators, especially those who cause crashes on our roads.
Recall that the Corps Marshal had during his inaugural address, drawn the attention of road users to issues of imbibing moral and ethical rebirth, which have become a major issue in the country.
He warned against traffic violations citing instances where they resulted in avoidable crashes with fire outbreak, leading to wanton loss of precious lives and destruction to properties. According to him, there is no going back on prosecuting erring drivers.