The Ugep community in Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State have been thrown into mourning after a family of six perished in a fatal auto crash along the Bekwara-Abochiche road.
The auto crash which occurred last weekend, claimed the lives of Mr. Edet Eteng, his wife, Ikow, and four of his children.
According to reports, the the four children were buried on Tuesday, September 19, 2023, at Ugep, while the bodies of the man and wife have been deposited at one of the hospital mortuaries in Ogoja LGA.
It was gathered that Eteng and the family lived in Abuja, and were at his village (Ugep) to celebrate the Leboku festival.
The victims were on their way to Abuja when they met their untimely death after their car was said to have collided with an oncoming vehicle.
The accident, according to a witness, occurred after the vehicle carrying the family derailed from its lane and collided face-to-face with the oncoming vehicle.
Other family members have been thrown into shock as late Eteng, just lost his aged mother a few days after celebrating her birthday.
The Feral Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Sector Commander in Cross River, SC Istifanus Ibrahim, who confirmed the incident said the tragedy involving two vehicles also left two other occupants injured.
He said the incident happened around the Otokpuru axis in Bekwarra Local Government Area of the state, adding that the victims were taken to Abuochichie Cottage Hospital.
“The information we gathered from security agents and a good Samaritan who were involved in the rescue operation because our post is a bit far from the scene of the accident, was that the probable cause of the fatal accident was over speeding,” he said.
“The accident claimed the lives of 6 persons, including one adult male (father) identified as Edet Eteng, one adult female (mother), and four children (three females and one male) all from one family,”
Road users, especially drivers, must as a matter of responsibility minimize speed during this rainy season because a lot can happen that may be beyond their control
,” he added.
