A tragic road accident has claimed the lives of a father and his teenage daughter in Umuahia, Abia State, when their Toyota Highlander SUV crashed under a stationary truck on Wednesday.

The fatal incident occurred at Amibo Ubakala along the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway when the light green Toyota Highlander, reportedly traveling at high speed from the Enugu direction, collided with a Mack truck loaded with iron scrap that was parked on the roadside.

According to eyewitnesses, the vehicle was carrying members of the same family when the driver lost control and crashed under the long vehicle. The impact instantly killed the driver and his teenage daughter, while other occupants sustained serious injuries.

Officials from the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) responded promptly to the scene, extracting the wrecked vehicle from under the truck before rushing the survivors to the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia. The bodies of the deceased have been deposited at a local mortuary.

Mrs. Ngozi Ezeoma, the FRSC Sector Commander in Abia State, confirmed the incident on Thursday. She stated that preliminary investigations suggest the accident may have been caused by overspeeding or driver fatigue.

"Our personnel arrived at the scene promptly to rescue the injured victims before transporting them to the hospital," Mrs. Ezeoma said.

Meanwhile, the driver of the truck, identified as Gideon Effiong Udofia, has been taken into police custody as investigations into the circumstances surrounding the accident continue.

This tragic incident adds to the growing concerns about road safety on Nigerian highways, particularly along the busy Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway, which has witnessed numerous accidents in recent years.

Road safety experts continue to advise motorists to adhere strictly to speed limits, avoid driving when fatigued, and maintain proper vehicle maintenance to prevent such unfortunate incidents.