Two people have died following a fatal collision between a container truck and a coaster bus on the Calabar–Itu Highway on Thursday night, May 1, 2026.
According to the Cross River State Police Command, the accident occurred at about 9:25 p.m. at Ikot Okon and involved a coaster bus believed to be carrying students of Cross River State University and a container truck.
One occupant died at the scene, while a second victim, who sustained critical injuries, was later confirmed dead in the early hours of Friday at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.
Police operatives arrived promptly at the scene and coordinated the evacuation of injured passengers to the teaching hospital for treatment.
The bodies of the deceased were also moved to the hospital morgue. Traffic flow along the highway was restored after the recovery operation and emergency response.
The driver of the container truck was not found at the scene when first responders arrived, and police say efforts are ongoing to identify and locate him as investigations into the cause of the crash continue.
The Command expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery. It also urged motorists to exercise caution, maintain safe speeds, and adhere to traffic regulations, especially on highways.
Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses, the police said.
