Driver Takes Off As Truck Crushes 7

No fewer than seven persons have been confirmed
dead following a road crash along the Calabar-
Ikom highway in Cross River State, involving a
truck and a 14-seater Toyota Hiace bus.
The ill-fated bus, which belongs to a transport firm
known as Calculux, was heading for Port Harcourt
when the accident occurred around New-Netim
community in Odukpani Local Government Area.
Cross River State Sector Commander of the Federal
Road Safety Corps, Mr. Lawrence Ikechukwu, who
confirmed the accident on Wednesday to newsmen
in Calabar, said the Port Harcourt bound bus,
which left its terminus in Calabar was loaded with
14 passengers.
He said, “The 14-seat bus belonging to the
Calculux has number plate LAGOS LSR-813-XS. It
was heading to Port Harcourt from Calabar and it
was carrying 14 passengers, including the driver.
“The bus driver was on the right hand side of the
road and the truck driver was overtaking
dangerously and carelessly. The Calculux bus tried
to avoid the truck and ran into the bush but the
truck lost control and followed them to the bush. It
crushed the bus and seven people died.
“The seven other persons are currently receiving
treatment at the General Hospital in Calabar and a
few of them are in critical conditions. From every
indication, the driver of the truck was at fault
because he was overtaking dangerously and he
lost control.”
He added that the driver of the truck ran away
shortly after the accident.
“We are working with the police to arrest the driver
of the truck. We will get him and he will face the
law. We have the manifest of the bus with us and
we are working hard to contact the relatives of
those that lost their lives,” he said.