Tragedy on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway: Father and Daughter Die in Ghastly Motor Accident Involving Family of Six

A heartbreaking tragedy struck on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, as a father and his teenage daughter lost their lives in a fatal road accident that occurred along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, close to Amibo Ubakala in Abia State.

The horrific accident, which happened around 12:00 noon, involved two vehicles: a green Toyota Highlander Jeep with registration number UWN 314AR and a red Mack truck with registration number PHC 971ZT. According to multiple eyewitnesses at the scene, the Toyota Highlander was transporting a family of six on their way from the Abia Tower axis heading toward Aba when disaster struck.

Witnesses explained that the Highlander rammed into the rear of a long trailer that was heavily loaded with iron scraps. The impact was devastating, especially because of the speed at which the Highlander was said to be moving. The vehicle could not stop in time, and the force of the crash left parts of the SUV crumpled beyond recognition.

Tragically, the driver of the Toyota Highlander, Mr. Chidi Innocent, a 60-year-old man from Enugu State, died instantly at the scene of the accident. Alongside him was his beloved daughter, Miss Onyinyechi Innocent, an 18-year-old teenager who also died on the spot. Eyewitnesses described the scene as “heart-wrenching,” with bodies trapped inside the mangled car before emergency responders arrived.

Both father and daughter have since been confirmed dead, and their remains have been taken to Godspeed Mortuary in Mgbarakuma Ubakala, where they are currently being kept as family members and loved ones mourn their untimely passing.

Among the four other passengers in the Highlander were their mother and two siblings. The two other occupants—believed to be children of the deceased—sustained serious injuries in the crash. They were quickly rushed by emergency responders and good Samaritans to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Umuahia, for urgent medical attention.

In a particularly distressing turn of events, the children’s mother was trapped under the truck for a significant amount of time before she could be rescued. It is not yet clear how severe her injuries are, but sources confirm she is alive and receiving treatment.

The driver of the truck, identified as 33-year-old Gideon Effiong Udofia, hails from Ikot Ekpene in Akwa Ibom State. He has been arrested by the police and is currently in custody as investigations into the cause of the accident continue.

Authorities have said that preliminary investigations are ongoing, and further details will be made available as they uncover the exact circumstances that led to the tragic collision. It is yet to be confirmed whether the trailer was stationary or in motion at the time of the crash.

This sad event is another reminder of the urgent need for road safety awareness, better road conditions, and strict enforcement of traffic regulations in Nigeria, especially on major expressways like the Enugu-Port Harcourt route.

We at NaijaRush extend our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased. May their souls rest in peace.