An accident
along the Enugu-Onitsha expressway led to the death of a teacher while several
students were injured and are in critical condition in the hospital.
The
occupants of the ill-fated bus were teachers and pupils from Bayelsa who were
on an excursion to the Ngwo Forestry in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu
State.
The Enugu
State Commissioner for Health, Dr Sam Ngwu, confirmed the accident and said it
occurred at Ugwu Onyeama, near Enugu at about 8.45 p.m. on Wednesday. NAN
reports 40 people were involved in the accident, most of whom were between ages
7 to 15 years.
Ngwu revealed that the Bayelsa commissioner
for health had been notified of the incident and was on his way to see the
victims in Enugu.
“The victims
were on an excursion to Enugu State. Their bus fell into a gully and many of
them sustained multiple fractures, lacerations, cuts and swellings on their
faces. Some of the victims were immediately taken to nearby hospitals in Ngwo,
following the intervention of the State Government. One of the teachers died in
the process, which is a miracle, considering the severity of the accident,” Dr
Ngwu said.
He added:
"Eleven
persons were severely injured. Ten of them were later transferred to the
National Orthopedic Hospital, while others were moved to the University of
Nigeria Teaching Hospital."
The Enugu
State Commissioner for Information, Dr Godwin Udeuhele, lamented the poor state
of the Enugu-Onitsha expressway and the number of lives it has cost.
"We
urge the Federal Government to expedite its intervention on that road to
minimise loss of lives and property," Udeuhele said.
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