Remember the sad incident that occurred on January 25 at 11:30 am on Ugwu-Onyeama axis of Enugu-Onitsha Expressway? The unforgettable event keeps traumatizing families of the involved.
The death toll on the record as at today has now risen to 23, according to the Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Enugu State Command, Franklin Agbakoba.
Agbakoba confirmed this on Tuesday in Enugu, deducing that two additional female victims had recently died while receiving medical treatment in the hospital.
Caused by a fuel-laden tanker that suffered brake failure, overturned, and exploded, while leaving 11 road users dead spot-on before emergency responders arrival at the scene.
Following the revelation of Agbakoba, it was further gathered that the deceased were evacuated by FRSC officers after officials of the Enugu State Fire Service extinguished the inferno, while the injured were taken to hospitals within Enugu for treatment.
The death toll rose to 18 a day after the accident, 21 after four days, and has now reached 23.
Agbakoba stated that the two additional victims—one admitted at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, UNTH, Ituku-Ozalla, and another at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu—succumbed to their injuries after battling for about a week.
According to him, of the five patients admitted to UNTH six days ago, one had died at the end of the month, while one female patient remains hospitalised.
Regarding the five victims admitted to ESUTH Teaching Hospital, Parklane, Enugu, Agbakoba said three female victims remain hospitalised.
“Two of the admitted patients in ESUTH Teaching Hospital have been referred to the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu, due to severe burns,” he said.
He further stated that of the three victims admitted to the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu, six days ago, one had recently died, while the two survivors had been joined by another victim referred from ESUTH Teaching Hospital.
Agbakoba had earlier disclosed that the incident involved 44 people as well as 16 vehicles, both commercial and private, and a commercial tricycle.
He added that 23 persons, including eight males and 15 females, were injured in the accident and rushed to three major government hospitals in Enugu: UNTH Ituku-Ozalla, ESUTH Teaching Hospital, and the National Orthopaedic Hospital.
