By Nurat Uthman
A yet-to-be-specified number of people lost their lives when a trailer lost control and crushed two tricycles at Oba along the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, on Sunday.
It was gathered that the fatal crash occurred at about 9 am and the victims were said to be on their way to attend a church service when the accident occurred.
Sources at the scene said the driver of the heavy-duty truck failed brakes, lost control and while trying to control the vehicle, eventually rammed into the two fully loaded tricycles, thereby pushing it and some of the occupants into a ditch.
Some of the victims were said to be run over by the truck as some victims were stick stuck by the tyres.
An eyewitness at the scene who simply gave her name as Amaka, said, “The accident occurred this morning as the revenue collectors stopped the tricycles for money, while this was going on, the oncoming truck which had already failed brakes rammed into the two tricycles, thereby pushed them into a nearby ditch.
“While some of the victims fell into the ditch, others were run over by the truck. It was a terrible sight to behold. Emergency responders rushed to the scene to attend to the injured and retrieved the bodies of the victims. As of now, five individuals have been confirmed dead, while the search for any other potential casualties is ongoing.”
This was also corroborated by some gory videos already trending online showing some of the bodies of the victims littering the road, where a voice noted that the tricycles were hit in quick succession because they were driving close to each other.
As of the time of filing this report, a crowd had subsequently besieged the scene and gridlock took over the ever-busy road as people rushed to the accident scene while the affected vehicles were blocking a major part of the road.
Local authorities were seen investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident and are working to determine the exact cause of the brake failure and the actions of the tax collectors that may have contributed to the tragic incident.
The Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps in Anambra State, Adeoye Irelewuyi in a short statement, confirmed the accident.
He said, “Yes, there was a road traffic crash at Oba along the Onitsha -Owerri expressway earlier today. Details of the crash are still being gathered. Some youths in the town and others are allegedly protesting over the incident.”
