11 persons burnt to death in Ebonyi auto crash
Zara Nwachinaemere, Abakaliki
Eleven persons yesterday were burnt to ashes in a fatal road accident which occurred along Afikpo – Okigwe Expressway, by Ayaragu in Ivo local government area of Ebonyi state.
The deceased were traveling from Umuahia to Abakaliki when the tyre of the 18-seater bus, Abia Line mass transit, conveying them burst and somersaulted.
The Abia Line Network Company Ltd, with registration number MUS938XA, had about 14 passengers on board, while 11 died. Three persons in the bus survived and were rushed to the hospital.
The mass transit as gathered caught fire on the air before landing, leading to the death of eleven passengers, including the driver.
Ebonyi state Police spokesperson, DSP Loveth Odah, confirmed the incident. She called on road users to ensure their vehicles are in good condition before plying the road.
She said, “It is an unfortunate incident this morning when the DPO of Ivo Division, called on the Commissioner of Police that there was a fatal motor accident that occurred along Afikpo/Okigwe Expressway by Ayaragu, in Ivo local government area of Ebonyi state, involving an 18-seater bus, Abia Line Network Company Ltd with registration number MUS938XA conveying about 14 passengers on board.
“According to an eyewitness, on reaching the said area, one of the tyres burst and the vehicle somersaulted and landed on the ground. Before it could reach down according to the eyewitness, it had already caught fire.
“So, the fire burnt about eleven of the passengers beyond recognition. Three survived, one is in the General Hospital Ishiagu, while two have been discharged but the driver died at the spot.
“The manifest we saw in the vehicle is that of yesterday, 7/2/2021. The question is, did they load the vehicle yesterday or the manifest was faked to deceive the police and other security agencies on the road?”
