An accident, which occurred in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, on Wednesday, claimed the lives of eight persons.
The crash, which occurred around 2am on the popular Marian Road, involved a Toyota Camry with number plate Lagos LSR 523 FC and a Volkswagen Audi cab with number plate AE 490 ANA.
Eyewitnesses blamed the accident on excessive speeding by the driver of the Camry car, which reportedly ran into the cab at a U-turn opposite the 9mobile shop.
The Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, Chidi Nkwonta, could not be reached when our correspondent called his mobile line, as it indicated that it was switched off.
However, the Police Public Relations Officer for the state, DSP Irene Ugbo, who confirmed the accident, said six persons initially died.
“We were informed that six persons died at the scene, so our men rushed in to control the situation. We later heard that two more persons died this morning,” she stated.
Ugbo also blamed the driver of the Camry car for the accident.
The Public Relations Officer of the FRSC in the state, Godsgift Uwem, blamed drunk driving for another accident that occurred on the MCC Road, where another car plunged into the drainage.