On New Year’s Day, four people were reportedly killed and several more were injured in two separate car accidents on the Abakaliki-Enugu expressway in Ebonyi.

The accidents happened in different spots along the route, according to Mr. Anthony Okore, Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ebonyi Command, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abakaliki.

The first collision was a Toyota Sienna colliding with an articulated vehicle, he explained.

“The accident happened in two locations, Ezzamgbo and Nkalagu axis of the road in Ohaukwu and Ishielu local government area of Ebonyi. The first involved a tanker coming from Abakaliki to Enugu and a Sienna vehicle coming from Lagos to Abakaliki. The tanker number plate is ENU 282 XT while the Siena number is KPU 537 YE,” he said.

Adding that:

“The tanker was trying to avoid a pothole and unfortunately swapped and hit two Commercial Motorcycles (Okada). Two persons died from the Motorcycle. Two persons also died from the Toyota Sienna, making a total of four deaths. Some others who received various injuries were taken to the hospital.”

According to Okore, the second accident included a truck loaded with garri (food items) that somersaulted on the road.

“The truck capsized, but no life was lost in that particular incident. The truck capsized and blocked the road. Our personnel has been there and they are trying to clear the road. Yes, it is causing gridlock on the highway, but FRSC officers are on top of the situation,” he said.