Five persons have reportedly lost their lives while 11 others sustained injuries in a fatal auto crash that occurred on Sunday, along with Calabar-Itu highway in Cross River State.

Wakadaily learnt that the tragic incident took place at about 3.pm between a Nissan Caravan with registration number GWB532XY and a Mark Truck with no registration number.

The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Akwa Ibom Command, Matthew Olonisaye, who confirmed this in a statement attributed the cause of the accident to over speeding.

He said, “A fatal crash occurred on Saturday, December 3, 2023, along the Itu-Calabar Road by Ayadehe at about 1510hrs.

“The crash involved a Nissan Caravan with Registration number GWB532XY and a Mark Truck with NO registration number.

“Eleven males and five females were involved, and three out of the five females and two out of the 11 males involved were confirmed dead, while the remaining 11 male and female occupants sustained injuries of various degrees.

When the report of the incident was received, the FRSC operatives mobilised and moved over to attend to the situation. Upon arrival at the crash scene, the injured ones were moved to nearby hospitals for prompt medical attention while the bodies of the deceased were deposited at the morgue.

“When an inquiry was made as to the cause of the crash, it was gathered that the causal factor to the crash was speed-related according to eyewitnesses. After evacuation of the victims, the road was cleared of the wreckages to enable free-flow of traffic.”

Olonisaye  futher warned road users especially motorists against speeding, wrong-way drive and indiscriminate parking.