Eight Feared Dead In Anambra Multiple Road Accidents

About eight persons have been feared dead and 12 others injured in a multiple road accident that occurred at the Umunya Odumodu Junction along the Nteje-Awka Expressway, in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State.

It was gathered that two heavy-duty trucks, one Sienna commercial bus, one black Toyota car, and another unidentified commercial vehicle were involved in the accident, which happened on Saturday at about 12:40 pm.

The commercial vehicles were said to be coming from Onitsha and heading to Enugu before the accident took place. The victims were said to be mostly from commercial vehicles.

An eyewitness beside the crash attributed the cause to over-speeding and recklessness by one of the drivers of the heavy-duty trucks.

The witness said, “I was waiting for passengers when I suddenly saw a trailer coming from Onitsha with a high speed, immediately he got closer to the Odumodu Junction, he lost control of the vehicle as he couldn’t control the break anymore, thereby ramming into an incoming trailer in between a bus loaded with passengers.

“About eight dead victims have so far removed from the commercial vehicles while one person is still trapped.”

The acting Sector Public Education Officer of the Anambra State command of Federal Road Safety Corps, Margaret B Onabe, confirmed the incident in a statement.

Onabe added that five unidentified drivers were involved in the fatal crash, adding that the probable cause of the fatal crash was overspeeding.

She, however, added that only one person died in the crash, while 12 others who sustained varying degrees of injuries have been rushed to the hospital.

She said, “The driver of the truck with registration number LSD 339 XA lost control as a result of speed, thereby causing multiple collisions of four other vehicles.

“About 26 persons comprising 20 male adults, and six female adults were involved in the crash. Injured victims were 12 comprising nine male adults and three female adults. One male adult was killed while 13 persons were rescued unhurt.

“The FRSC rescue team from RS5.33 Nteje in collaboration with a team of Officers and men from Anambra Sector Command, Awka rushed the victim to Boromi and Divine Favour Hospital, Umunya. The dead victim is still trapped under the truck as of the time of this report.”

She further said that the rescue team is still on the ground controlling traffic and ensuring obstruction caused by the crash is cleared.

She maintained that the Sector Commander, Corps Commander Adeoye Irelewuyi, and the Head of Operations, DCC Okora Awassam had been to the crash scene.