Tragedy struck on Wednesday in Mgbowo, Auwgu local government area of Enugu State, when a construction company low loader truck reportedly developed brake problems and lost control hurtling down from the Mmaku slope of the Oji River -Awgu road onto the Nkwo junction linking Old Enugu-Portharcourt highway with the Oji-Awgu road and rammed into a school bus with registration number MB608 conveying pupils of Presentation Nursery Primary School Awgu, home.
It was gathered that the accident which occurred about 4.30pm claimed over twenty lives. Those who sustained injuries were rushed to the hospital where they were placed under intensive care.
The school belongs to the Catholic Diocese of Awgu and is run by the sisters from the Daughters of Divine Love, DDL congregation
It was also gathered that some members of the school staff, a vulcanizer, a commercial motorcyclist and an auto mechanic were killed in the accident.
Sympathizers and parents were at the scene of the accident to verify the dead bodies from the second bus that did the school runs that day.
The drivers of the bus and the truck reportedly survived the accident.
Enugu Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, (FRSC), Mr Ogbonna Kalu, said the accident was caused by dangerous driving.
He said “Twenty-one persons have been confirmed dead and more than 50 persons were in the school bus. Not all the deaths were school children. Those working on the roadside were part of the casualties.
“From available information, the accident was caused by dangerous driving”, he said.
