Enugu Police Hunt Driver After Double Fatality Crash

The Enugu State Police Command has launched an intensive investigation to apprehend an unidentified driver implicated in a fatal hit-and-run incident that claimed the lives of two men. The tragic event occurred at Airport Corner, Emene, within the Enugu East Local Government Area, around 10 am on Wednesday. According to reports, the driver, who was reportedly heading from Emene towards the Enugu city centre, allegedly lost control of their vehicle while navigating the area at excessive speed.

Confirming the unfortunate occurrence, the command's spokesperson, SP Daniel Ndukwe, stated, “A hit-and-run driver killed two people, all male, and ran away. The police have a report of the incident, and investigation is ongoing to track down the driver.”

An eyewitness provided a harrowing account, detailing how one of the victims had temporarily stopped his vehicle after it developed a mechanical issue. He had reportedly gone to a nearby mechanic workshop to retrieve tools for repairs. The witness recounted that as the victim was returning with the tools, the speeding driver allegedly collided with him. The impact was so severe that it reportedly resulted in his instant death and the severance of one of his legs.

The driver, without stopping, allegedly continued their reckless journey, subsequently striking another man who also succumbed to the injuries, before making a swift escape from the scene.

Another eyewitness, Olivia Sandra, corroborated the account, saying, “After he finished fixing the car, he was about to return the tools to the workshop when a very reckless driver knocked him down at excessive speed as he entered the corner. He was killed instantly and one of his legs was cut off. He also knocked another person down, killing two of them instantly, and zoomed off.”

Further testimonies from another bystander indicated that the driver made no attempt to stop or render assistance to the victims. Instead, the vehicle continued at high speed towards the Airport Roundabout, where it was alleged to have narrowly missed hitting other road users.

This tragic incident comes just days after the Enugu State Police Command issued a directive for the immediate and rigorous enforcement of traffic laws across the state. The command's order was a response to what the police described as a widespread disregard for traffic regulations by motorists, a factor significantly contributing to traffic congestion, road crashes, fatalities, and property damage.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, had personally issued this directive, acting in compliance with a nationwide mandate for traffic law enforcement from the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu.