The Abia State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed the death of at least four persons in a fatal road crash involving a commercial bus belonging to the Ebonyi Transport Corporation.
The accident occurred on March 7, 2025, along the Umuahia-Enugu Expressway near Ohiya Mechanic Village, shortly after Abia Tower at about 2pm.
In a statement on Saturday, the Abia Sector Commander of the FRSC, Ngozi Ezeoma, disclosed that the crash involved a white Toyota Hiace bus with registration number 14B41EB, carrying 18 passengers โ 11 men and seven women.
โOne female passenger died on the spot, while 17 others were rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, for treatment. Sadly, three more victimsโtwo men and one womanโlater succumbed to their injuries, bringing the total fatalities to four,โ Ezeoma said.
She attributed the crash to excessive speeding and a tire burst, which caused the vehicle to somersault multiple times.
โPreliminary investigations point to these factors, but further probes are ongoing to determine the exact cause,โ she added.
The Sector Commander expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured a swift recovery. She reiterated the FRSCโs commitment to reducing road accidents in the state, urging motorists to observe traffic regulations to prevent avoidable crashes.
Meanwhile, eyewitnesses provided conflicting accounts of the accident, with some suggesting the driver may have dozed off due to fatigue, while others suspected brake failure.
