Seven persons travelling for a funeral ceremony have died in an auto crash on the Ogidi-Abatete road in the Idemili Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Many others on the same journey sustained varying degrees of injury.

The accident, which occurred about 5.15 pm on Friday, involved a tipper loaded with sand and a bus, with 19 persons on board.

It was gathered that the bus was conveying a family to a burial ceremony when it collided with the tipper.

An eyewitness said,

No fewer than seven persons died on the spot while other passengers sustained injuries.

Most of them were members of the same family going for a burial ceremony.

The Sector Public Education Officer of Federal Road Safety Corps, Pascal Anigbo, confirmed the incident to our correspondent.

He said the corpses had been deposited at the hospital morgue, while the injured were receiving treatment.

He said,

About 5.20 pm on Friday, we received a distress call on a fatal road traffic crash which occurred at 5.15pm near Buckie Polytechnic, along Ogidi-Abatete road.

FRSC rescue team from Nteje Unit Command were immediately dispatched to the scene of the crash.

The crash involved a Mercedes Benz 608 with registration number AA205DMA driven by one Ezeugwu Christopher and a Mercedes Benz Tipper with enlistment number XD651GDD, driver’s name is given as FC Ugwumba.

Casualties involved included 17 adult males, One female adult and one female child. Totalling 19. They were all rushed to Twinkle Hospital, Ogidi by members of the community.

The Sector Commander FRSC, Andrew Kumapayi, condoles with the family of the deceased and wishes the injured victims quick recovery, warning vehicle owners and drivers against the use of expired or worn-out tyres, particularly during the rainy season.

Justin Nwosu

Justin Nwosu is the founder and publisher of Flavision. His core interest is in writing unbiased news about Nigeria in particular and Africa in general. He’s a strong adherent of investigative journalism, with a bent on exposing corruption, abuse of power and societal ills.