The sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Anambra State, Joyce Alexander, has attributed the road crash that claimed eight lives with six other persons injured in the State to over-speeding.
The incident, according to her, occurred at about 9pm on Sunday night at Nteje along Enugu-Onitsha Expressway in Oyi local government area of the State, involving a Hiace commercial bus and a petrol tanker.
She said five people were confirmed dead on the spot, while another victim was confirmed dead at a hospital where the FRSC command’s rescue team took the injured victims to. She, however, added that additional two others were later confirmed dead on Monday morning.
The FRSC boss, who narrated how the auto crash occurred in an interview with LEADERSHIP on Monday night, said: “Eyewitnesses, including one of the survivors said it was the recklessness of the bus driver that caused the accident.”
The FRSC Sector Commander, however, said that she had been monitoring the treatment of the survivors in two hospitals – Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital (COOUTH) and Regina Ceali hHspital, Awka, noting that apart from one of the injured whose family members have insisted and got him discharged from the Regina Ceali Hospital, others were still receiving treatment in both hospitals.
Earlier, in a statement made available to journalists, Corps Commander Alexander mourned the deceased victims of the accident and commiserated with the injured even as she warned vehicle drivers against over-speeding.
She advised motorists to also carry out regular checks on their vehicles to make sure they are road worthy.
“The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Anambra Sector Command regrets to announce a fatal crash that occurred on April 27, 2025, at approximately 9:00 PM along the Nteje-Awka route, near the New Terminal close to Ukpo Junction.
“According to eyewitness accounts and preliminary investigations, a Mack tanker without a registration number collided with a Toyota Hiace bus, registered as EKP375XM.
“The bus, which was travelling from Abakaliki to Onitsha, was speeding and overtook dangerously before colliding with the tanker, which was heading towards Awka on a single carriageway. The crash resulted in eight fatalities—four males and four females—and injured six others, comprising two males and 4 females.
“The FRSC Anambra Sector Command extends its condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured. The Sector Commander, Corps Commander Joyce Nnennaya Alexander, has urged drivers to prioritize their safety and that of others by maintaining a safe speed and ensuring that the road is clear before overtaking to prevent such tragic incidents.
“Drivers must ensure they drive at a minimum safe speed and only overtake when the road is clear,” emphasized the Sector Commander.
“The rescue team from RS5.33 Nteje attended to the injured victims, transporting them to the hospital for treatment, while the deceased were taken to Jerusalem Mortuary Nteje after confirmation by a doctor.
“The Sector Commander, Corps Commander Joyce Nnennaya Alexander, demonstrated her commitment to road safety by visiting the crash scene, inspecting the crashed vehicles at Nteje Police Station, and meeting with the NUPENG Chief of Taskforce. She also visited the surviving victims at Regina Caeli Hospital and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital to assess their condition and offer support.
“The Sector Commander’s proactive approach underscores the FRSC Anambra Sector Command’s dedication to preventing road crashes and ensuring the safety of all road users. By engaging with stakeholders like NUPENG and monitoring the aftermath of the crash, the Command aims to identify areas for improvement and implement measures to reduce the risk of future accidents.
“The FRSC Anambra Sector Command reassures the public of its continued efforts to promote road safety awareness, enforce traffic regulations, and collaborate with relevant stakeholders to create a safer road environment for all users,” the statement issued by the sector public education officer, RC Margaret Onabe, read further.
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