Five persons have been killed and 18 others injured in a multiple road crash along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway in Enugu State.

The crash occurred at about 3:18 p.m. on Thursday at the Ugwu-Onyeama axis of the expressway, near the LNG Plant.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Route Commander and Public Enlightenment Officer, Enugu State Sector Command, Theophilus Okoduwa, confirmed the incident to newsmen in Enugu.

Okoduwa said the crash involved 25 persons comprising 13 males and 12 females.

He said 18 victims, including seven males and 11 females, sustained injuries, while five others — four males and one female — died in the crash.

According to him, the vehicles involved were a Dongfeng trailer, a Mitsubishi L300 commercial bus and a Honda car.

“Within nine minutes of reporting the incident to the FRSC Sector Command at about 3:25 p.m., our officers and marshals, as well as patrol vehicles and ICU ambulance, arrived at the scene,” Okoduwa said.

He explained that the injured victims were evacuated to Tex Hospital, 9th Mile Corner, for immediate medical attention, while the remains of the five deceased victims were deposited at Ekochin Morgue, 9th Mile, after confirmation by medical officials.

The FRSC official said traffic was diverted to facilitate rescue operations and the removal of the wreckage from the road.

“We have diverted traffic and efforts are still ongoing to clear obstruction caused by wreckage of the vehicles involved in the multiple crash,” he said.

Okoduwa said preliminary investigations indicated that wrongful overtaking and speed violation might have contributed to the crash.

He urged motorists using the expressway to exercise caution, obey traffic regulations and avoid dangerous overtaking and excessive speed to prevent further loss of lives.