Tragedy struck Friday afternoon on the failed Calabar-Itu federal highway as 17 persons were crushed to death in a fatal crash involving a containerized trailer and a commercial bus.

Eyewitnesses told newsmen that the accident occurred when a 40-foot trailer veered off its lane, crushing a 16-seater bus travelling from Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, to Calabar.

The eyewitness, identified simply as Emmanuel, said the trailer landed directly on the bus, killing all 17 occupants, 16 passengers and the driver, on the spot.

“There were no survivors. The trailer completely smashed the bus. It was a horrific scene,” Emmanuel recounted.

He blamed the accident on the deplorable condition of the Calabar-Itu highway, which he said has been undergoing repairs for more than 15 years without any meaningful progress.

As of the time of filing this report, the corpses of the victims had been evacuated to an undisclosed mortuary by community youths and concerned individuals.

Efforts to reach officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the police in Calabar for comments were unsuccessful, as neither agency was willing to speak on the incident.