Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Federal Road Safety Corps has confirmed that one person lost his life while three others sustained injuries in a road accident involving a cement-laden trailer and a fuel tanker along the Ugwu Onyeama axis of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway. The crash, which occurred on Monday evening, involved a Howo truck loaded with bags of cement and a MAN Diesel truck transporting Liquefied Natural Gas. Initial reports had claimed that three persons died in the crash, but the FRSC clarified that only one fatality was recorded.
Confirming the incident on Tuesday, the Public Education Officer of the FRSC Enugu State Sector Command, Route Commander Theophilus Okoduwa, said four male adults were involved in the crash. "Only one person unfortunately lost his life in the fatal accident involving four males," Okoduwa stated. The injured victims were rushed to nearby medical facilities for treatment, while emergency responders moved swiftly to avert a possible explosion.
The crash sparked fears of a major fire after the collision involving the tanker carrying liquefied natural gas. The FRSC immediately alerted both the Federal and Enugu State Fire Services, whose personnel arrived promptly at the scene. The Enugu State Command of the Federal Fire Service disclosed that it received the first distress call at exactly 3:28 a.m., triggering an immediate high-priority emergency response. The command said its crew achieved a turnout time of just three minutes, with the primary firefighting appliance departing the station at 3:31 a.m.. The emergency team was led by the Officer-in-Charge, Divisional Superintendent of Fire Ucheagwu Maxwell.
Upon arrival, firefighters encountered what they described as an extremely hostile environment marked by intense radiant heat, continuous gas venting and the threat of a secondary Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion. The officer-in-charge immediately established an operational safety perimeter and requested additional support to contain the emergency. Firefighters subsequently deployed two medium jets, combining water and high-expansion foam concentrate to blanket the volatile tanker and suppress the danger posed by the leaking LNG. The containment effort received further support with the arrival of an appliance from the Enugu State Fire Service, enabling the establishment of a multi-agency water relay system that helped bring the situation under control.
Eyewitnesses alleged that the cement-laden trailer, reportedly belonging to the Dangote fleet, suffered a brake failure before crashing into the tanker. It was also gathered that soldiers stationed near the scene joined emergency responders in rescuing victims from the wreckage. Okoduwa said investigations into the cause of the accident were ongoing.
The Ugwu Onyeama section of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway has remained a major accident black spot over the years. The stretch of the highway has long been considered a high-risk zone due to its steep terrain and recurring accidents. Road safety authorities have continued to urge motorists to exercise caution, adhere to speed limits, and ensure that vehicles are roadworthy to reduce the incidence of fatal crashes on the nation's highways.
In a related but separate incident at the same Ugwu Onyeama axis, three people were confirmed dead and property estimated at N900 million was destroyed in a tanker fire that occurred in the early hours of Monday, June 22. The Deputy Superintendent of Fire, Federal Fire Service, Maxwell Ucheagwu, confirmed that the fire followed a collision involving a Dangote truck loaded with bags of cement and a tanker transporting LNG. Preliminary investigation revealed that the accident was caused by brake failure on the Dangote truck, which rammed into the LNG tanker, damaging the tanker and causing a leakage of its contents. Ucheagwu stated that three persons lost their lives in that incident, while several others sustained injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. The fire affected an estimated area measuring about 200 by 100 square metres. Property worth approximately N900 million was lost in the incident, while assets valued at about N800 million were salvaged through the swift response of firefighters.
The Ugwu Onyeama axis has witnessed several tragic accidents over the years, including a petrol tanker explosion in January 2025 that claimed 18 lives, and a crash in February 2025 that killed six persons. The recurring tragedies have prompted calls for improved road safety measures, including the installation of safety barriers, better signage, and stricter enforcement of speed limits along the notorious stretch. Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has also called on the FRSC to enforce nationwide measures following the January 2025 explosion.
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