NAN – An auto crash, yesterday, claimed nine persons along Abakiliki-Enugu expressway.
Eight of the victims were said to be supporters of the All Progressives Congress, APC,and Labour Party, LP, in Ebonyi State.They were crushed to death at Ezzamgbo junction in Ohaukwu Local Government area of Ebonyi state.
The accident involved a Toyota Sienna and a tipper lorry with registration number HKW 436 XA. The victims were said to be heading to Enugu state to witness the Ebonyi governorship and National Assembly ruling at the Appeal Court, Enugu, while the conductor of the tipper also died on the spot.
It was gathered that the APC branded Toyota Sienna vehicle is owned by APC House of Representatives candidate in the last general election, Uche Nshii but there were conflicting reports that his friends in LP were also in the vehicle. The sector commander of the Federal Road Safety Corp, FRSC, in Ebonyi, Mr Charles Abuochi in an interview confirmed the incident but maintained that details concerning the auto crash were still scanty.
“There is an accident that happened along the Ezzangbo, Abakaliki-Enugu federal highway. “Our men are still at the scene of the crash to ensure free flow of traffic but preliminary report confirmed that nine persons died on the spot while one person sustained grave injuries and had been rushed to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki.
“Corpses of deceased victims have been deposited at the mortuary,” Abuochi said. According to him, the accident victims were party supporters traveling to Enugu to observe the Appeal Court ruling on Ebonyi governorship election petition sitting in Enugu.
He said the driver of the Sienna was traveling on a high speed when he lost control and crashed into the vehicles coming from the opposite direction.
