Contrary to conflicting reports on the number of casualties from an auto crash that happened on Wednesday at Oye-Agu Abagana in Njikoka Council Area of Anambra State, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), on Thursday confirmed that only an underage female child died in the accident.
The accident occurred yesterday, when a Sienna boss belonging to a transport company owned by the Anambra State, crashed into the market located along the Old Enugu-Onitsha road.
Various platforms had trended a video showing the crashed vehicle and the seemingly lifeless bodies which they put to different figures up to 5.
However, a visit to the hospital where some of the persons identified in the video, showed some of them recuperating.
Confirming the incident, the State Sector Commander, Corps Commander Joyce Nnennaya Alexander, in a statement, said only one person died from the accident.
She also revealed that six others sustained injuries in the incident and were currently receiving medical attention.
Alexander, in the statement signed by Acting Sector Public Education Officer, Margaret B Onabe, described the crash as fatal, noting that the driver of the commercial Toyota Sienna with registration number NEN588YX belonging to TRACAS, Mr Eze Uchechukwu probably had a brake failure.
She, however, sympathized with the family of the dead victim, and wished the injured victims a quick recovery, while admonishing motorists to service their vehicles regularly to comply with minimum safety standards before using the road.
The Sector Commander also warned market women to stop displaying their wares and selling by the roadside.
“According to eyewitness accounts, the Toyota Sienna lost its brake, rammed into Oyiagu market, and crashed. Seven people comprising one male adult, three female adults, and three female children were involved in the crash.
“One female child was killed. One male adult, three female adults, and 2 female children were injured. At the time FRSC rescue team from RS5.3 Nteje arrived at the scene, they were informed that the injured victims had been taken to Urban Hospital and Maternity for medical attention, while the dead victim was taken to the morgue.
“The vehicle was taken by DTO team Oyiagu. The FRSC team visited the hospital where the victims were taken to for medical attention to ascertain the condition of the injured victims,” the statement noted.
